Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Andres Gimenez drove in two runs apiece as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Kansas City Royals 8-5 Sunday and clinched a playoff berth.
Toronto is the first team in the American League to secure a spot in the playoffs, returning to the post-season for the first time since 2023, and improved its AL-best and AL East-leading record to 90-66.
In 2023, they were topped by the Minnesota Twins in the wild-card round.
The Blue Jays also came into Sunday’s contest with the best record in the American League. However, Toronto only had a two-game edge on the New York Yankees for top spot in the AL East.
A division crown along with clinching the first or second seed in the AL would give the Blue Jays a bye through the wild-card round and home-field advantage in the AL Division Series. The last time Toronto made it that far was nine years ago.
“I’m just so happy for them,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “It’s hard at this level for everyone to put their egos aside and to play for one another. It’s so cool to see these guys completely happy for one another when they get the job done no matter who it is.
“This is the most fulfilling team I’ve ever been a part of with different characters, different skillsets, guys coming together for one common goal which is what’s important now. This is something you always celebrate.”
The Blue Jays scored three runs in the second inning on run-scoring hits by Gimenez, Tyler Heineman and George Springer.
Guerrero hit a two-run double in the fifth and Addison Barger followed with an RBI double to give Toronto a 6-2 lead.
After the Royals cut their deficit to 6-5, Ernie Clement and Gimenez had RBI hits in the eighth to extend Toronto’s lead to 8-5.
Toronto starter Trey Yesavage worked four innings, allowing four runs on five hits while walking three and striking out two.
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Seranthony Dominguez (4-4) pitched 1 1/3 innings for the win, and Jeff Hoffman recorded his 32nd save of the season.
Carter Jensen had a two-run double in the fourth inning, Maikel Garcia and Salvador Perez hit consecutive run-scoring singles in the fifth and Randal Grichuk picked up an RBI in the sixth to complete Kansas City’s scoring.
Michael Wacha (9-13) gave up six earned runs on eight hits in five innings with one walk and four strikeouts.
Blue Jays trying to win first World Series since 1993
The Blue Jays locked up a playoff spot with a week remaining in the regular season after a less-than-stellar start of 16-20 in early May and trailing by as many as eight games in the division in late May.
“I remember back when we were in Tampa in May, we weren’t playing very well and we got swept there,” Schneider said. “I think these guys did a great job of rallying around each other, but the turning point was really when we came out of Tampa and went into the Texas series.”
Playoff success has been elusive for the Blue Jays, who haven’t won a post-season game since 2016. And, unlike the past three trips, they hope this year they won’t have to play in the AL wild-card round as they try to win their first division title since 2015 as they close out the regular season with a six-game homestand against Boston and Tampa Bay.
“You could feel it with this group in spring training,” Schneider said. “I know that sounds really cliche, but when you get a group of men that are committed to the same goal, you can do things like this.”
The Blue Jays are trying to win their first World Series since 1993.
“Today we go back to the post-season, but the journey is not over yet,” Guerrero said. “We still want to win the division over the next six games. Since spring training, everyone has been together and when you see a team like that you start believing.”
Toronto snapped a four-game losing streak with Sunday’s win, and after the game popped Champagne in the visitor’s clubhouse in Kansas City.
