Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Shane Bieber sent a clear message to his teammates after giving up an early home run on Wednesday.
The Blue Jays were on the road to play the Seattle Mariners in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series. Toronto was down 0-2 in the series, and in the first inning, the Blue Jays trailed 2-0 early as Julio Rodriguez hit a two-run home run.
After giving up the home run, Bieber went into the dugout and sent a clear message to his teammates, he revealed postgame.
“Obviously, it was an unfortunate start, but I came into the dugout and told the guys, ‘Pick me up, I got good stuff tonight,’ and they definitely listened,” Bieber said to reporters postgame.
Bieber ended up going six innings, allowing four hits and two runs, while striking out eight, as the only runs he gave up were in the first inning. The right-hander shut down the Mariners’ offense to help Toronto get a big 13-4 win, to now trail 2-1 in the series.
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“That’s what they brought me here to do,” Bieber said. “I remember this time last year, having not thrown the ball for a while. Just thinking, ‘I can’t wait to pitch in big games.’ Find myself here in the ALCS and was able to do that tonight. Happy with how things are playing out, but we’re still down 2-1, and there’s a lot left to do.”
Toronto will look to even up the ALCS on Thursday in Game 4 when the Blue Jays send Max Scherzer to the mound. First pitch is at 8:33 p.m. ET.
Featured image via John Froschauer/Imagn Images
