#3: Alomar’s HR caps dramatic
comeback, 1992
Toronto Blue Jays (7) at Oakland
Athletics (6)
Sunday, October 11, 1992
ALCS Game 4
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
In
1992, the Toronto Blue Jays went to the postseason for the fourth time, but
this was the first time the team really believed they were good enough to win
it all. While this version of the team was vastly different than the two that
won division titles in the 1980s, the disappointment from 1991 still resonated
around the club. They were supposed to be favourites to beat Minnesota in the
ALCS but lost in five games.
But
things would be different in 1992. Although the postseason didn’t get off to
the start the Blue Jays and their fans would have liked following a 4-3 loss in
Game 1 of the ALCS. They quickly rebounded to take the next two games (3-1 and
7-5) to set up the biggest game (to this point) in the team’s history. This
would be a chance to take a firm hold in the ALCS over the Oakland A’s and they
had their big free agent signee, Jack Morris, on the mound. Oakland would
counter with Bob Welch.
Toronto
would score first, in the top of the second, on a solo home run by John Olerud.
Everything looked okay as the game headed to the bottom of the third. But
that’s when the wheels seemed to fall off. An RBI single by Rickey Henderson, a
sac fly by Ruben Sierra, a double by Harold Baines, a bases loaded walk to
Terry Steinbach and a single to Carney Lansford, and all of sudden Morris and
the Jays were trailing 5-1.
Things
weren’t looking any better when the Jays failed to score in the fourth, fifth
and sixth, and Oakland extended their lead to 6-1 in the bottom of the sixth
when Sierra doubled in Henderson. And as the outs ticked by, it looked like the
series would be tied at two at the conclusion of the game.
Leading
off the top of the eighth, second baseman Roberto Alomar doubled to right
field. Alomar then attempted to steal third to provide a spark for a Toronto
rally. He was successful and then scored on an RBI single by right fielder Joe
Carter to make the score 6-2. Next up was designated hitter Dave Winfield who
also singled, moving Carter to third base. First baseman John Olerud had yet
another single, scoring Carter making the score 6-3. A fourth consecutive
single, this time off the bat of left-fielder Candy Maldonado, scored Winfield
and the deficit was now only two runs, at 6-4.
Oakland
manager, Tony LaRussa, decided to bring in his All-Star closer—and future
Hall-of-Famer—Dennis Eckersley, to put out the fire and tie the series. Eckersley
escaped further damage in the eighth by getting Kelly Gruber to fly out, Pat
Borders to ground out, and striking out Ed Sprague, leaving the tying Toronto
runners on second and third.
Coming
off the mound, Eckersley turned to the Toronto dugout and, in a gesture of
unprofessionalism, pumped his fist and shouted at the Blue Jays players. He
more or less was saying that the Jays couldn’t touch him for any runs.
But
the momentum was in Toronto’s favour and after Oakland went down in the eighth,
leaving two baserunners of their own, the Jays looked to complete the comeback.
But they would have to face Eckersley again. The Oakland veteran had just
completed a season that would reward him with not only the Cy Young Award, but
also the League’s Most Valuable Player Award. Here was a pitcher that was so
good, that even though he only pitched maybe four or five innings a week, was
still dominant enough to be voted the best player in the American League.
Toronto
had the top of the order up in the ninth and centre-fielder Devon White quickly
started another Jays’ scoring threat when hit a line drive single to left
field. That brought up Alomar, and we all know what happened. Alomar and
Eckersley battled to a two and two count. After Alomar fouled off a pitch, he hammered
the fifth pitch from Eckersley over the right-field fence for a game-tying
two-run homer, stunning the Oakland reliever and the A’s fans, while cementing
his own legacy for the Toronto Blue Jays’ franchise. (Watch the home run by clicking here.)
However,
the moment of glory almost ended abruptly in the bottom of the ninth. With
Duane Ward on to pitch for the Jays, Oakland put the winning run on third base
with only one out. A’s catcher, Terry Steinbach, hit a ground ball to Alomar.
Eric Fox, the runner at third, took off for the plate in an attempt to win the
game. Alomar’s throw was perfect to Borders who applied the tag. Fox was out,
and the game continued.
The
tenth proved uneventful and the Jays came to bat in the top of the eleventh.
Derek Bell walked to lead off the inning, moved to third on a single by
Maldonado, then scored one out later on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Borders.
Toronto had the lead, 7-6.
On
to close the game was long-time Toronto pitcher, Tom Henke. Although he
surrendered a one-out single, Henke was able to get three fly ball outs from
Oakland to end the game and give Toronto a three games to one lead in the
series.
The
comeback, jump-started the Jays on their way to the World Series. It was this
game that proved this Toronto club was different than the previous three that
had failed in their attempt to win a pennant.
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