Aaron Sanchez took a no-hitter to the seventh inning and Troy Tulowitzki hit a single in the top of the eight to break a 1-1 tie to help the Toronto Blue Jays (89-73) defeat the Boston Red Sox 2-1 and clinch the top wild card seed.
The Jays will now host the Baltimore Orioles (89-73) on Tuesday in the American League Wild Card game. Despite beating the Yankees 5-2 in New York, the O’s needed a Blue Jays loss due to a 9-10 head-to-head record against Toronto this season.
For the Orioles, catcher Matt Wieters had two homeruns and four RBIs, Kevin Gausman pitched seven plus innings and closer Zach Britton pitched his 48th save in as many opportunities in the victory at Yankee Stadium.
The Red Sox (93-69), winners of the American League East, will now visit the Cleveland Indians (94-67, winners of the A. L Central) in the American League Division Series. For the opening game at Progressive Field on Thursday, Rick Porcello will pitch for the Red Sox and Trevor Bauer will start for the Tribe.
In the Wild Card Game the starting pitchers will be Chris Tillman for Orioles and Marcus Stroman for the Blue Jays. The Blue Jays are riding a two game winning streak, while the Orioles have won four of their last five. While head-to-head the Blue Jays won the season series, Baltimore won two of three games the last time these two teams met in Toronto (September 27-29).
The winners of the Wild Card Game will face the Texas Rangers (winners of the A.L West and holders of the best record in the Junior Circuit at 95-67) in the other American League Division Series.
