"Tied game four of the 1992 ALCS with a clutch home run in the top of the ninth. Scored a crucial run for Toronto in the top of the eighth."
That would be Roberto Alomar. The Toronto Blue Jays had struggled for years to get over the hump. By 1992, they still hadn't reached the World Series. And they were in their sixteenth year.
The American League Championship had been one tough hurdle for the Blue Jays to overcome. Up 3-1 against Kansas in 1985, they lost it somehow (Despite games six and seven at home!). Lost three straight at home in 1991 to Minnesota. That one was just five games.
Another five game ALCS Toronto lost was in 1989. To Oakland. It seemed Toronto was cursed.
So in 1992, Toronto was in Oakland for game four. Up 2-1 in the ALCS, they were looking to put the stranglehold on it. But this was a crucial game. Oakland knew it. They charged ahead 6-1 despite a solo home run from the Jays' John Olerud.
It was still 6-1 in the top of the eighth when Alomar hit a double off starter Bob Welch. Two singles scored him. 6-2, and Olerud was back to the dish. The A's brought in Dennis Eckersley to put the young star away, but it was John and Candy Maldonaldo that brought the Jays back to within two runs with clutch singles.
Still, it was 6-4 for the Athletics in the top of the ninth. Devon White led off with a single to left. Ricky Henderson (Not with the Jays until the next season), misplayed it! Devo made it to not just second, but third! Alomar was back up the dish. 3-3 at the plate.
He made it 4-4. But in a big way. With a home run.
Toronto won it in extras. Two games later the Blue Jays were off to the World Series. There, they were up against the Atlanta Braves. This would not be easy, either. The Braves won game one at home, 3-1, and turned to John Smoltz in game two. He fanned five of the first six batters to face him.
Toronto found ways to hang around. They fought back from 2-0 down in the top of the fifth by scoring twice. But it was Atlanta that scored two more times themselves. It was up to Robbie and company in the top of the eighth.
White flied out. One down. But Alomar delivered again in the clutch. It was just the sixth hit off Smoltz, but that got the gang going. As was the case in the fourth contest of the ALCS, two singles scored him. It was 4-3. That was, however, all Toronto got that inning.
But a walk to pinch hitter Derek Bell and a two-run home run by pinch hitter Ed Sprague propelled the Jays to a 5-4 win, squaring the World Series.
Toronto went home and took two of the next three games. But it was Smoltz who got Atlanta back home with a 7-2 win in game five at the SkyDome. Not so fast, boys.
Alomar was there to score the fourth and final run for Toronto in the next contest. It was in Atlanta, and it made it 4-2 for the visitors. The Jays needed it as home team scored one more run before the last out was recorded. The Jays were on top of the world. At last!
Toronto had been a good team up until then. Even before Alomar arrived in 1991, they'd been posting some amazing winning seasons dating back to 1983. But a player like Alomar was someone who could change the course of game (Or even series) with not only his bat but also his glove. Robbie won numerous Gold Gloves there at second base. He anchored a powerful infield in Toronto in the early 1990s. And when things looked grim, the Jays turned to him!
That would be Roberto Alomar. The Toronto Blue Jays had struggled for years to get over the hump. By 1992, they still hadn't reached the World Series. And they were in their sixteenth year.
The American League Championship had been one tough hurdle for the Blue Jays to overcome. Up 3-1 against Kansas in 1985, they lost it somehow (Despite games six and seven at home!). Lost three straight at home in 1991 to Minnesota. That one was just five games.
Another five game ALCS Toronto lost was in 1989. To Oakland. It seemed Toronto was cursed.
So in 1992, Toronto was in Oakland for game four. Up 2-1 in the ALCS, they were looking to put the stranglehold on it. But this was a crucial game. Oakland knew it. They charged ahead 6-1 despite a solo home run from the Jays' John Olerud.
It was still 6-1 in the top of the eighth when Alomar hit a double off starter Bob Welch. Two singles scored him. 6-2, and Olerud was back to the dish. The A's brought in Dennis Eckersley to put the young star away, but it was John and Candy Maldonaldo that brought the Jays back to within two runs with clutch singles.
Still, it was 6-4 for the Athletics in the top of the ninth. Devon White led off with a single to left. Ricky Henderson (Not with the Jays until the next season), misplayed it! Devo made it to not just second, but third! Alomar was back up the dish. 3-3 at the plate.
He made it 4-4. But in a big way. With a home run.
Toronto won it in extras. Two games later the Blue Jays were off to the World Series. There, they were up against the Atlanta Braves. This would not be easy, either. The Braves won game one at home, 3-1, and turned to John Smoltz in game two. He fanned five of the first six batters to face him.
Toronto found ways to hang around. They fought back from 2-0 down in the top of the fifth by scoring twice. But it was Atlanta that scored two more times themselves. It was up to Robbie and company in the top of the eighth.
White flied out. One down. But Alomar delivered again in the clutch. It was just the sixth hit off Smoltz, but that got the gang going. As was the case in the fourth contest of the ALCS, two singles scored him. It was 4-3. That was, however, all Toronto got that inning.
But a walk to pinch hitter Derek Bell and a two-run home run by pinch hitter Ed Sprague propelled the Jays to a 5-4 win, squaring the World Series.
Toronto went home and took two of the next three games. But it was Smoltz who got Atlanta back home with a 7-2 win in game five at the SkyDome. Not so fast, boys.
Alomar was there to score the fourth and final run for Toronto in the next contest. It was in Atlanta, and it made it 4-2 for the visitors. The Jays needed it as home team scored one more run before the last out was recorded. The Jays were on top of the world. At last!
Toronto had been a good team up until then. Even before Alomar arrived in 1991, they'd been posting some amazing winning seasons dating back to 1983. But a player like Alomar was someone who could change the course of game (Or even series) with not only his bat but also his glove. Robbie won numerous Gold Gloves there at second base. He anchored a powerful infield in Toronto in the early 1990s. And when things looked grim, the Jays turned to him!
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