TORONTO – Vladimir Guerrero Jr. finished making his way through the high-five line in the blue Jays’ dugout before heading back up the steps for a curtain call. As the sold-out rogers Center crowd chanted “Vladdy, Vladdy, Vladdy,” Guerrero Jr. removed his helmet, raised his arms, and addressed them.
“Vamos!” Guerrero Jr.screamed, wearing a serious look on his face and the Blue Jays’ home run jacket.
One day after Guerrero Jr. emphatically announced his presence in thes playoffs, he surpassed even that moment. If your looking for a signature post-season moment for the superstar, it doesn’t get much better than this. As he stood in front of the dugout and acknowledged the rollicking 44,764 in attendance, it felt like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was finally doing what he was always meant to do in toronto.
“That’s something that you dream of since you’re a child,” Guerrero Jr. said through interpreter Hector Lebron about the curtain call. “It happened to my dad a few times and he was happy. Tonight was (my turn) and it felt really good.”
The first baseman had just launched a 415-foot grand slam into the second deck that put the Blue Jays up, 9-0, effectively sealing a 13-7 thrashing of the New York Yankees in Game 2 of the ALDS. It was the first post-season grand slam in franchise history and came during a masterful 5.1-inning, 11-strikeout performance by right-hander Trey Yesavage.
Guerrero Jr. took some time to review video of his big swing following the game.
“It was awesome,” he said with a smile.
Right-hander Kevin Gausman, who started saturday’s Game 1, was in the clubhouse with some teammates during Guerrero Jr.’s home run and watched it on one of the big-screen televisions.
“We were jumping around up in here,” Gausman said. “A couple of us jumping on the couches and going crazy. It was a lot of fun.”
“That’s a huge swing for him,” said manager John Schneider. “Huge swing in the game, obviously, but kind of cool for him the last two (games) to have some moments as he’s our guy. He’s our dude.”
George Springer said the home run is right up there with any other big moment he’s witnessed Guerrero Jr. produce.
Worth a look