Ryan Goins gets redemption in Game 3 after dropped pop-up in Game 2
After dropping the pop-up that opened the door for the Royals' go-ahead rally in Game 2, Blue Jays second baseman Ryan Goins got redemption in Game 3.
By
Mike Axisa
•
5 min read
TORONTO -- The Blue Jays came home for Game 3 of the ALCS down two games to none to the Royals. They were shut out in Game 1, having been thoroughly dominated by Edinson Volquez and a parade of relievers, but Game 2 was a different story.
The Blue Jays held a 3-0 lead for most of Game 2 and rent-an-ace David Price was cruising. He allowed a single leading off the game, then retired the next 18 batters he faced. Only two of those 18 batters hit the ball out of the infield.
Things unraveled quickly in the seventh inning, when the Royals rallied for five runs to turn the game around. The five-run rally started with what should have been an out -- a Ben Zobrist pop-up fell between Jose Bautista and Ryan Goins in shallow right field.
“I stuck my glove up, I thought I heard something but it wasn’t, so I didn’t go after it aggressive enough,” said Goins after the game. “It dropped and that was it. It led to a big rally by them. I just thought I heard 'I got it,' but it was nothing. I should have gone at it more aggressively, put my glove up like I always do, that means I got it and I just didn’t make the play.”
Fans and sports radio blamed Goins for the gaffe and the Game 2 loss, though, as manager John Gibbons noted after the game, the Blue Jays "still had a lead and a chance to get out of it" at the time of the pop-up. It was a big play in a big loss though, and fingers get pointed.
In Game 3 Monday night, Goins, a light-hitting defensive specialist at second base, had an opportunity to redeem himself for the Game 2 misplay, regardless of whether he actually deserved blame for the loss.
"(I) put the game in Kansas City behind me," said Goins after Game 3. "Had the off day yesterday, came in and worked out. And today was probably the last thing in the back of my head, didn't think about it. Came in with a mindset to do what was needed to win."
Goins took took advantage of the opportunity in a huge way in the Game 3 win (TOR 11, KC 8). First he gave the Blue Jays the lead with a two-strike, two-out, two-run single off Johnny Cueto in the second inning. He fell behind in the count 0-2 but battled before picking up the single on the ninth pitch of the at-bat.
"I felt like the entire night, we had great at-bats," said Josh Donaldson after Game 3. "Even early on, we worked the pitches. I think (Cueto) had 40 pitches in the second inning. Then (Goins) was able to get that big hit there for us ... We just rolled after that."
In the fifth inning Goins tacked on what turned out to be a pretty important insurance run with a solo home run to right field. Goins hit only five home runs during the regular season and was 2 for 23 (.087) in the postseason before driving in three runs in Game 3.
All thoughout the game, Goins showed off his high-end glovework, making a variety of sliding and running and leaping plays while ranging far to his right. He robbed the Royals of at least three base hits throughout Game 3, most notably Lorenzo Cain with this sliding grab in the seventh inning.
"You have to put it in perspective. Ryan Goins is one of the best defensive second baseman in this league. He did that for us all year long," said Donaldson. In fact, Goins was 12th among all second baseman with +4 defensive runs saved in 2015. That doesn't sound great, but he played only 537 innings at the position. The guys ahead of him all played several hundred innings more.
Goins went 2 for 4 with the home run, 3 RBI and several sparkling defensive plays in Game 3. He downplayed his contributions after the game -- "Helping the team win is great," he said -- instead focusing on the win and the need to do it again in Game 4. His manager and teammates were not so quick to dismiss his big game, however.
"I can't tell you how happy I am to be sitting up here right now next to him after that game in Kansas City," said Troy Tulowitzki. "He is a special player, obviously, gives everything he's got. And like I said, I couldn't be happier after that game, even though I didn't think it was a big deal. I think everybody in that locker room had his back. But for tonight him to be putting together the at-bats he did, play the great defense, he deserved it, because he didn't put his head down. He focused on the next game and that's what you do."
Gibbons said Goins has been "carrying that load around a little bit," referring to the dropped pop-up. "But he stepped up, really got us on the board with that great at-bat, picking up those two runs, base hit to left and then, of course, the home run ... It was really the perfect game for him, the day after, he'll feel much better about himself."
Goins is the No. 9 hitter in a lineup stacked with All-Stars and MVP candidates, so he isn't expected or counted on to be a huge force. Teams need unexpected contributions to win in the postseason though. Almost every championship team in every sport has a player step up and have a huge moment seemingly out of nowhere.
Game 3 was that huge moment for Goins. The home run was nice and the defense was marvelous, though that second inning at-bat against Cueto stands out most to me. Cueto had a chance to escape the inning with the lead, but Goins battled him hard and came through with a huge hit.
After the disappointment of Game 2, both on a team and personal level, that hit must have felt like a huge relief for Goins because he was able to turn the page and contribute so quickly. The home run and defense was just icing on the cake. Goins wiped away the dropped pop-up and redeemed himself in a big way in Game 3.
"I think that shows you a lot about who Ryan Goins is, about the amount of character he has," added Donaldson. "I know he wanted to come out and prove to people the kind of player he is. He did that."
