Blue Jays Ninth Inning Magic Bails Out Alek Manoah

Toronto rallied in the ninth inning to walk it off in a rainy 6-5 win over the Miami Marlins.

© Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

As rain poured down on Sahlen Field, the Blue Jays trailed the Miami Marlins by two runs in the ninth inning.

Reese McGuire, the Blue Jays No. 9 hitter, got things going with a base hit up the middle as the lineup turned over. Marcus Semien followed with another single off Marlins closer Yimi Garcia as the dormant Buffalo crowd sprang to life. 

There hadn’t been much for Blue Jays fans to cheer about on Wednesday night, but as pressure mounted in the final frame, the Blue Jays sluggers rose to the occasion.

On an 0-2 count, Bichette somehow barreled up a high fastball and shot it deep down the right field line for a triple. Two runs scored.

Marlins manager Don Mattingly elected to walk both Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Teoscar Hernandez to set the table for Joe Panik -- an unlikely hero in the game’s most important moment.

Told you not to Panik 😉 #WALKOFF pic.twitter.com/qN5g7hSQtA

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) June 3, 2021

As Buffalo fans chanted his name, Panik delivered. The Blue Jays third baseman lifted a fly ball into center field that allowed Guerrero Jr. to trot home from third as Toronto walked it off in a 6-5 win.

"If you want to be a winning team, everybody's got to contribute. And that was Joe's spot," Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. 

“NEVER count us out!” - @JoePanik #WALKOFF pic.twitter.com/hDO9ac3DYS

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) June 3, 2021

Toronto’s late inning comeback bailed out a rough outing from Blue Jays starter Alek Manoah, who made just his second major league start on Wednesday.

With his mother Susana looking on from the Sahlen Field seats, Manoah allowed three homeruns -- all on off-speed pitches -- and was chased from the game before he could finish the fourth inning. 

For Manoah, those three home runs were the most he's allowed in any of his 11 professional starts. Wednesday marked the first time he's allowed more than three runs since an August 20, 2019 appearance in High A ball. 

Despite his sparkling pitching stats before the Marlins game, Manoah said he's no stranger to adversity. He called the outing a learning experience and didn't appear flustered in the slightest.

"I've been hit a lot harder outside of baseball," Manoah said. "We'll be alright."

The slider command was a problem for Manoah in his last outing, and the control issues snowballed into his second start. The 6-foot-6 righty still punched out five hitters through 3 1/3 innings, but all three home runs came on off-speed pitches. 

The 23-year-old was frequently underneath his slider, as the pitch backed up or lacked the bite it needed to find the zone. In the fourth inning alone, Manoah issued two breaking-ball walks and got himself yanked from the game. 

Wednesday's outing brought to light what is easily disguised in the minor leagues -- the importance of commanding all your pitches. Against Triple-A opponents, Manoah was able to get away with some questionable location, but even the soft hitting Marlins (slugging just .366 as a team) showed him what happens when you don't spot up.  

Up Next:

LHP Hyun Jin Ryu vs RHP Zack Greinke - Friday @ 7:07 PM ET

After an off day Thursday, the Blue Jays will host Houston for a three-game series. Toronto is 1-2 against the Astros this year and was outscored 16-21 in three games at Minute Maid Park from May 7-9.