KANSAS, Mo. - The Toronto Blue Jays ran out of playoff lives Friday, exiting the post-season as the Kansas City Royals gutted out a tense 4-3 victory to win the American League Championship series four games to two.
Jose Bautista was a one-man wrecking crew for Toronto in a playoff thriller driving in three runs with a pair of homers included a two-run shot in the eighth inning that tied it at 3-3 when the Jays were down to their last five outs.
Kansas City shortstop Alcides Escobar was unanimously selected the ALCS MVP.
But the Royals answered with a run to end Toronto's season and then held off the Jays in a nail-biting ninth.
There was drama aplenty before a jacked-up Kauffman Stadium crowd of 40,494, including a 45-minute rain delay midway through the eighth.
When the game resumed, Toronto closer Roberto Osuna was on the mound. The 20-year-old phenom had been lights out most of the season but he walked Lorenzo Cain, who came home on Eric Hosmer's ensuing single for a 4-3 lead. Kendrys Morales singled to put men on first and second.
