TORONTO – Tyler Heineman was nonetheless buzzing across the Toronto Blue Jays clubhouse greater than 40 minutes after he drove within the successful run within the tenth inning.
Heineman hit right into a fielder’s option to plate Myles Straw from third base to assist Toronto rally to a 4-3 win over the Houston Astros on Tuesday, because the Blue Jays acquired an important win so as to add to their lead within the American League East. The come-from-behind victory got here hours after Toronto put all-star shortstop Bo Bichette on the 10-day injured record with a sprained left knee.
“To be sincere, I’ve by no means had that occur, I’ve by no means had a walk-off in my life,” mentioned Heineman by his locker at Rogers Centre. “It was superior, however simply to do it to assist the group win and inch nearer to successful a pennant is actually what you dream about.
“I’m simply form of proper now beginning to come again right down to regular. My coronary heart was beating out of my chest for some time.”
Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s two-run single within the backside of the ninth tied it 3-3 as Toronto (83-61) ended a two-game slide. George Springer led off the sixth together with his twenty eighth house run of the season.
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The victory coupled with the New York Yankees’ 12-2 collapse in Detroit, prolonged the Blue Jays’ lead within the AL East to 3 video games with 18 left to play within the common season.
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Toronto can be a half-game forward of the Tigers for the perfect report within the American League.
“I want I’d have loved it slightly bit extra, to be sincere. I form of blacked out. That’s what you dream of,” mentioned Heineman. “The followers are at all times behind us, so it’s superior.
“The truth that we got here again within the ninth inning down, down 3-1 towards a very good nearer and a very good group is simply, I imply, it’s actually what we do your complete 12 months.”
Bichette was harm when he collided with Yankees catcher Austin Wells’s shin guard within the sixth inning of Saturday’s 3-1 loss in New York. X-rays taken throughout a virtually two-hour rain delay got here again damaging, and he later struck out in his last at-bat.
The 27-year-old Bichette didn’t play in Sunday’s finale within the Bronx and the Blue Jays had Monday off. His transfer to the IL was retroactive to Sunday.
Heineman mentioned Bichette shall be missed however Toronto has had a “subsequent man up” method all 12 months.
“You possibly can’t exchange Bo. He can’t get replaced. He’s a catalyst for our group. He’s a frontrunner of our group, so it’s gonna be powerful,” mentioned Heineman. “I believe simply understanding that there’s an opportunity that he can come again simply motivates us to maintain taking part in till he’s in a position to come again after which assist us out.”
Ernie Clement was slotted into the lineup at quick on Tuesday afternoon and earlier than the sport Blue Jays supervisor John Schneider mentioned that Kiner-Falefa would additionally seemingly play shortstop.
Each stepped up within the ninth.
Clement reached base with a single after which Kiner-Falefa, pinch hitting for second baseman Andres Gimenez, had a basehit to attain Heineman and Clement, forcing additional innings.
“It felt huge in that method,” mentioned Kiner-Falefa, who was picked up off of waivers from the Pirates on Aug. 31 after Toronto had traded him to Pittsburgh on July 30, 2024. “Simply having the ability to be in entrance of the followers for the primary time and get a chance.
“Clearly, Bo goes down, however we now have sufficient depth to get by means of. You possibly can by no means exchange a participant like that however we’re gonna do the perfect we will.”
Schneider was nonetheless reeling from his up-and-down day that began with an MRI confirming Bichette’s damage and ended with Heineman’s walk-off when he sat down for his post-game convention.
“I would like a beer,” joked Schneider. “Bizarre day. Lengthy day. Ended rather well.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Sept. 9, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
