Statcast of the Day: Donaldson’s daring dash

TORONTO — Josh Donaldson’s hustle secured Toronto’s spot in the American League Championship Series.

Donaldson’s heads-up baserunning play — darting for home plate and safely sliding headfirst after Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor’s errant throw to first on an attempt for an inning-ending double play — gave Toronto a walk-off 7-6 win in the 10th inning on Sunday night to complete a three-game AL Division Series sweep over the Texas Rangers. Game 1 of the ALCS will be on Friday night in Boston or Cleveland (time TBD). The ALCS will be broadcast on TBS, as well as Sportsnet and RDS (French) in Canada.

Game Date Matchup Highlights Gm 1 Oct. 6 TOR 10, TEX 1 Gm 2 Oct. 7 TOR 5 TEX 3 Gm 3 Oct. 9 TOR 7, TEX 6 (10) • Blue Jays vs. Rangers ALDS coverageShop for postseason gear: Rangers | Blue Jays

“It was great,” said Edwin Encarnacion, whose hard slide into second base helped prevent Odor from making a strong throw. “You see Josh Donaldson, MVP player, to play the game the way he does. That’s the reason why we win games.”

Martin hit a sharp grounder to Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus, who fielded the ball and threw to Odor at second. But Odor’s throw was wide, getting by first baseman Mitch Moreland and leaving a window for Donaldson to dash home. Odor’s throw was measured by Statcast™ at just 74.0 mph, and it traveled only 79.7 feet as it pulled Moreland off the first-base bag.

“I threw a little bit to the side,” said Odor, who hit a big two-run homer for Texas in the fourth. “I pulled the ball a little bit, but I tried to do my best there. That’s it.”

The win stunned a Rangers team that entered the postseason with the best record in the AL, and it allowed Toronto to advance to the ALCS for the second consecutive year. 

Donaldson got things started in the 10th with a leadoff double off Rangers reliever Matt Bush, who had pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth. After Encarnacion drew a walk, Bush struck out Jose Bautista to bring up catcher Russell Martin.

Martin got down the first-base line in 4.6 seconds, according to Statcast™, which …

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