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Blue Jays Take Series 3-1, Schmidt Injured in Game 1
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Cleveland Indians (May 16-19, 1986)
The Toronto Blue Jays took three of four games from the Cleveland Indians in a tightly contested series, marred by an injury to Cleveland's star third baseman, Mike Schmidt, in Game 1. Toronto showed resilience throughout the series, with contributions from all parts of their lineup, and the clutch play of Fred McGriff propelled them to victory.
Game 1: Indians Edge Jays 1-0; Schmidt Injured
Thursday, May 16, 1986
The series opener was a pitcher’s duel as Cleveland's Mike Witt and Toronto’s Bill Donovan locked horns in a battle of wits. Cleveland squeaked by with a 1-0 victory, but the win was bittersweet as All-Star third baseman Mike Schmidt was hit by a pitch in the second inning. Schmidt will miss 11 games due to a wrist injury, a huge blow to Cleveland's lineup.
Injury Update: After the game, Schmidt commented from the locker room, “I knew something wasn’t right as soon as the pitch hit me. It's frustrating, but I’ll be back soon.”
Scoring Plays:
- Top 7th: Hank Greenberg scored the game’s only run, walking to lead off the inning. After advancing to third on a single by Red Schoendienst, Greenberg came home on a groundout by Manny Sanguillen.
Pitching Duel:
- Mike Witt (CLE): 8.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K. Witt used his devastating sinker to induce 14 ground ball outs and consistently kept Toronto off balance. "I felt in control all night," Witt said. "Our defense really picked me up too."
- Bill Donovan (TOR): 6.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 3 K, 1 BB. Donovan pitched effectively but took the loss. "It’s a tough one to swallow, but our guys fought hard," he said.
Box Score Summary:
Cleveland: 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors
Toronto: 0 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors
W: Mike Witt
L: Bill Donovan
S: Julian Tavarez
Game 2: McGriff’s Blast Powers Jays to 3-2 Win
Friday, May 17, 1986
Toronto bounced back in Game 2 with a thrilling 3-2 victory, led by Fred McGriff’s timely home run and Gary Gentry's gritty pitching performance. Cleveland threatened early, but Toronto’s bullpen held strong to secure the win.
Scoring Plays:
- Top 3rd: Cleveland took a 1-0 lead on a misplayed fly ball by right fielder Art Shamsky, which allowed Joe Jackson to score.
- Bottom 5th: Toronto tied it on a single by Pat Garner, scoring Jeff Blauser.
- Bottom 6th: Fred McGriff delivered the decisive blow, smashing a two-run home run to deep center, putting Toronto up 3-1. McGriff said after the game, “I got a pitch over the plate, and I didn’t miss it. Feels good to help the team win.”
Pitching Performances:
- Gary Gentry (TOR): 6.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 4 K. Gentry fought through command issues but limited damage. “It wasn’t my best stuff, but the guys picked me up.”
- Orlando Hernandez (CLE): 6.0 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K. Hernandez struggled with control, walking four batters. “I left a few pitches up, and they made me pay,” Hernandez said.
Key Stats:
- Fred McGriff (TOR): 1-4, HR, 2 RBI
- Duke Snider (TOR): 3-4, 2B
- Red Schoendienst (CLE): 2-4
Box Score Summary:
Cleveland: 2 runs, 9 hits, 0 errors
Toronto: 3 runs, 9 hits, 1 error
W: Gary Gentry
L: Orlando Hernandez
S: Dave Smith
Game 3: Blue Jays’ Big Inning Seals 6-3 Victory
Saturday, May 18, 1986
Toronto took control of the series in Game 3, winning 6-3 after a four-run outburst in the 5th inning. Fred McGriff stayed hot, launching his second home run in as many games, and Art Shamsky added a triple to lead the offensive charge.
Scoring Plays:
- Top 2nd: Cleveland jumped ahead 2-1 with two runs off Eddie Cicotte, aided by walks and an error.
- Bottom 5th: Toronto’s offense came alive. Duke Snider's sacrifice fly tied the game at 2. Art Shamsky tripled to score Eddie Collins, and Fred McGriff capped the inning with a two-run home run to deep center field. "We found our rhythm," said McGriff, who credited his preparation for his power surge.
Pitching Performances:
- Eddie Cicotte (TOR): 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 7 K, 4 BB. Cicotte struggled early but settled down to give the Jays a solid outing.
- Steve Avery (CLE): 5.0 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 4 K. Avery was hurt by one big inning. "You can’t give guys like McGriff anything to hit," Avery said postgame.
Player Quotes:
- Art Shamsky (TOR): "That triple was huge for us. I just tried to stay calm and get a good swing."
- Hack Wilson (CLE): "We need to be sharper defensively, especially when they start putting pressure on us like that."
Box Score Summary:
Cleveland: 3 runs, 7 hits, 0 errors
Toronto: 6 runs, 10 hits, 1 error
W: Eddie Cicotte
L: Steve Avery
S: Donnie Moore
Game 4: Berra Walk-Off Double Lifts Jays 3-2 in Extras
Sunday, May 19, 1986
The final game of the series was a classic, as Toronto rallied late to force extra innings before Yogi Berra hit a walk-off double in the 10th inning, securing a 3-2 win for the Blue Jays. Cleveland had taken an early lead, but Toronto clawed back, highlighted by Pat Collins' solo homer to tie the game in the 9th inning.
Scoring Plays:
- Top 1st: Cleveland struck quickly with RBI singles from Alan Trammell and Jackie Robinson to take a 2-0 lead.
- Bottom 9th: Pat Collins tied the game with a towering solo home run to deep center off Julian Tavarez. "I knew I got it," Collins said. "I’ve been waiting for a moment like that all season."
- Bottom 10th: After Duke Snider was placed on second to start the inning, Yogi Berra lined a double to center, driving in the winning run. "I was just looking for something to drive," Berra said. "It feels great to come through in a spot like that."
Pitching Performances:
- Ed Reulbach (TOR): 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 6 K. Reulbach bounced back after a rough 1st inning to dominate Cleveland's lineup.
- Mike Boddicker (TOR): 3.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 5 K. "Boddicker was lights-out," said manager Bobby Cox. "He kept us in it and gave us a chance to win."
Key Stats:
- Yogi Berra (TOR): 3-5, 2 2B, walk-off double
- Pat Collins (TOR): 1-4, HR, 1 RBI
- Manny Sanguillen (CLE): 2-5, 2B, RBI
- Jackie Robinson (CLE): 1-4, RBI, 2 K
Box Score Summary:
Cleveland: 2 runs, 7 hits, 0 errors
Toronto: 3 runs, 9 hits, 1 error
W: Mike Boddicker
L: David West
Series MVP: Fred McGriff
Fred McGriff was named MVP of the series after hitting two crucial home runs and driving in 4 RBIs over the four games. His ability to deliver in key moments, including his game-winning homer in Game 3, made the difference for Toronto. "McGriff was clutch," said Blue Jays manager Bobby Cox. "He came through every time we needed him."
The Blue Jays' series win puts them in strong contention in the AL East, while Cleveland will have to regroup after losing their star player in Schmidt. Toronto’s pitching
