<p>The second-guessing of Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson probably began Monday before George Springer crossed home plate after his stunning three-run home run to propel the Toronto Blue Jays to the World Series.</p>
<p>The blast was euphoric for Toronto, which won the AL pennant in a 4-3 victory largely on strength of Springer's blast into the left-field bleachers at Rogers Centre. For Seattle, it was a gut punch that will haunt the franchise that was previously eight outs away from reaching its first-ever World Series.</p>
<p>And it raised hard questions for Wilson, whose fateful decision in that pivotal seventh inning to pitch reliever Eduard Bazardo instead of closer Muñoz prompted immediate second-guessing in his postgame news conference.</p>
<p>[Yahoo Sports TV is here! Watch live shows and highlights 24/7]</p>
<p>There was speculation before the pitching change that Wilson instead would go with closer Andrés Muñoz for a two-plus inning save. Muñoz had pitched just two innings in the ALCS and was relatively fresh for the seven-game series. And he hadn't allowed a run in 6 1/3 postseason innings.</p>
<p>Bazardo, meanwhile, had pitched five innings in three ALCS appearances, including a two-inning stint in Sunday's 6-2 loss in Game 2. He also pitched in all five games of Seattle's 3-2 ALDS win over the Detroit Tigers.</p>
<p>So why did Wilson make the call that he did?</p>
<p>Wilson talks decision to pitch Bazardo</p>
<p>"Bazardo has been the guy that's gotten us through those situation[s], those tight ones, especially in the pivot role, and that's where we were going at that point," Wilson told reporters.</p>
<p>Until Bazardo entered the game with one out in the bottom of the seventh, the Mariners were in control. Julio Rodriguez led off the game with a double and came around to score, and the Mariners went into the seventh with a 3-1 lead with strong pitching from starter George Kirby and regular-season starter Bryan Woo, who came in for relief in the fifth.</p>
<p>Woo pitched two scoreless innings, but allowed two baserunners with no outs in the seventh. After a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners, Woo's night was done. Then came Wilson's call to put Bazardo in the game.</p>
<p>Two pitches into Bazardo's appearance, Springer hit the home run that shift the fate of both franchises.</p>
<a href="https://data852.click/5a32cd58501e613bf372/ee0a75caf0/?placementName=default" class="dirlink-1">Original Article on Source</a>
Source: "AOL Sports"
Source: AsherMag
Full Article on Source: VOUX MAG
#LALifestyle #USCelebrities
0 Comments