Happ escapes jams to get 1st postseason win

ARLINGTON — Veteran lefty J.A. Happ certainly wasn’t at his best during Game 2 of the American League Division Series on Friday afternoon, but as he has done so many times this year, he found a way to grind through and get the win.

Happ had two baserunners on base in each of the first four innings but managed to pitch into the sixth having allowed just one run. That was enough to preserve Toronto’s early lead, help secure a 5-3 victory over Texas and take a 2-0 lead in the series.

In previous years, this was the type of outing that might have gotten away from Happ, but not in 2016. He finished the season ranked second in the AL with 20 wins for a reason, and when the bats supported him early, he was there to back them up.

Game Date Time Matchup TV/Highlights Gm 1 Oct. 6   TOR 10, TEX 1 Gm 2 Oct. 7   TOR 5 TEX 3 Gm 3 Oct. 9 7:30 p.m. TEX @ TOR TBS/SN/TVA *Gm 4 Oct. 10 1 or 6 p.m. TEX @ TOR TBS/SN/TVA *Gm 5 Oct. 12 8 or 9:30 p.m. TOR @ TEX TBS/SN/TVA *- If necessary | All times listed ETShop for postseason gear: Rangers | Blue Jays • Complete Postseason coverage

“You go into a game knowing that at some point they’re going to get their hits,” Happ said. “Some of them are hard, some are soft. I think the key was keeping the ball in the ballpark. It was a battle. It seemed like a long five …

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