TORONTO – Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees was on the verge of unravelling on the Toronto Blue Jays in the sixth inning. Kevin Gausman had cruised through five and led 2-0 when an Anthony Volpe double, Austin Wells single and Trent Grisham loaded the bases for Aaron Judge.

Unfazed, Gausman rallied to strike out the AL MVP for the first out and as gutsy as that was, what came next required even more mettle. Rather than giving in, he issued a four-pitch walk to Cody Bellinger that brought home a run, but ultimately helped the Blue Jays escape the inning with the lead, as Ben Rice popped out before Louis Varland came on to blow away Giancarlo Stanton. They blew the game open in the seventh and eventually won 10-1.

“He was well aware of everything he was doing that entire inning and knowing that he could manoeuvre the way he did and knowing that I had a dude throwing a 101 for Stanton after his pitch count was up pretty high,” manager John Schneider marvelled. “Kev's a great pitcher, but he also can navigate those spots when he's at his best. That's part of what makes him great.”

On a day to celebrate the 35-year-old’s many accomplishments since signing a $110-million, five-year deal with the Blue Jays that expires this........

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