The Toronto Blue Jays entered their September 9 matchup with the Houston Astros holding an impressive 82-61 record. But after dropping two straight to the rival New York Yankees, the pressure was mounting. Another loss could have been a major blow to their confidence, and for most of the night, it looked like trouble—down 3-1 heading into the ninth inning.

That’s when Isiah Kiner-Falefa, the team’s recent waiver pickup, delivered a clutch two-run single to tie the game and send it into extras. But the true magic arrived in the tenth. A sharp groundball from Houston pinch-hitter Victor Caratini was hit straight to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at first base. Instead of opting for the routine out, ‘Vladdy’ fired a rocket across the diamond to Addison Barger, cutting down Jose Altuve at third. The daring, brilliant throw flipped the game in Toronto’s favor.

According to sports journalist Hazel Mae, Guerrero Jr. had noticed that Altuve wasn’t running hard on the bases earlier in the game. Mae revealed Vladdy’s own words on the matter in a tweet that read: “Guerrero Jr. told me when Caratini fouled off the 0-1 pitch, he noticed Altuve was ‘running slow’ to 3rd. Guerrero signalled to Barger he would throw it to him on a hard hit ball his way. ‘I made up my mind I would make that throw.'”

That split-second decision, born out of high baseball IQ, changed everything. Broadcaster Dan Shulman highlighted that Guerrero’s throw was his second-hardest of the season, while his infield single later in the game produced a sprint speed of 29.4 feet per second—also his second-best of 2024. “Two huge plays,” Shulman declared.

The risk level was so extreme that manager John Schneider insisted Guerrero might be the only first baseman in the league bold enough—and skilled enough—to attempt it. “He’s like a Swiss knife,” Schneider remarked. Teammate Isiah Kiner-Falefa, positioned at second during the play, was equally stunned: “That play changed the whole outcome of the game. That’s what it takes to win the World Series.”

This wasn’t the first time Vladdy has delivered a big moment,

And it certainly won’t be the last

Big moments are nothing new for Guerrero Jr., who has developed a reputation for delivering under pressure. One of his most iconic came on June 28, 2022, when he laced a walk-off single against the Red Sox in a 6-5 thriller.

This season only underscores his stardom. Fresh off signing a record-breaking $500 million contract extension in April, Guerrero is slashing .304/.396/.500 with an .896 OPS, 23 homers, and 79 RBIs. His 144 OPS+ places him 44% above league average offensively, and for the second straight year, his WAR is north of 4.5. While his Outs Above Average (-3) shows some defensive vulnerability, his laser against Altuve served as the perfect reminder that his value goes well beyond the metrics.

With the dramatic win, the Blue Jays improved to 83-61, strengthening their grip on the AL East with a three-game cushion over the Yankees. For the Astros, the defeat marked their seventh loss in their last ten games, trimming their AL West lead to just one game over the surging Seattle Mariners.

This game will be remembered for Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s exceptional baseball intelligence and the Blue Jays’ unwavering resilience in a high-pressure battle. Such moments underscore the excitement and unpredictability that make baseball a captivating sport.