Blue Jays lose reliever Cecil to calf injury

Toronto Blue Jays reliever Brett Cecil said he cried while walking to the clubhouse after being helped off the field.

Cecil’s season is over because of a torn calf muscle, and the lefthander was replaced on Toronto’s postseason roster by rookie right-hander Ryan Tepera.

“It’s not the way I perceived it ending,” Cecil said Saturday, a day after sustaining the injury in Game 2 of the AL Division Series.

He got hurt while tagging out Mike Napoli in a rundown that ended the eighth inning of the Blue Jays’ 6-4 loss in 14 innings to Texas on Friday that gave the Rangers a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

Tepera, who had a 3.27 ERA in 32 appearances over three stints with the Blue Jays this season, was put on their playoff roster Saturday, an off day before Game 3 in Texas tonight.

Napoli was caught after a pickoff move by Cecil, who then went to get in position for the rundown. The pitcher said he took a throw from shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, then immediately felt a pop when he took a step toward the runner.

“I don’t know how I took an extra two steps, but I was able to get there and tag him,” Cecil said. “Then just the adrenaline took over for a second, and just the pain set in, and it was tough to get off the field.”

While doctors have given him no timeline for his return, Cecil said he would not need surgery and would be ready for spring training.

Cecil was 5-5 with five saves and a 2.48 ERA in 63 games during the regular season.

He didn’t allow an earned run over his last 37 appearances since June 24, with 44 strikeouts in those 312/3 innings.

“It’s definitely a big loss,” manager John Gibbons said.

Beltre skips Rangers workout: Adrian Beltre was excused from Texas’ workout at the ballpark to rest his back in the AL Division Series.

Beltre missed Game 2 on Friday because of a lower back strain that also forced the third baseman’s early exit from the series opener Thursday.

The Rangers say Beltre is resting, taking medications and still considered day to day.

Beltre will be evaluated before Game 3 tonight. A Rangers’ win over Toronto would clinch the bestof-five division series.

FRIDAY’S LATE GAMES

Mets 3, Dodgers 1

LOS ANGELES — Jacob deGrom struck out 13 over seven scoreless innings in his postseason debut and Daniel Murphy homered off a star-crossed Clayton Kershaw to help the New York Mets defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 on Friday night.

DeGrom (1-0) limited the Dodgers to five hits and one walk. The right-hander’s strikeouts tied the franchise playoff record set by Tom Seaver in Game 1 of the 1973 NL Championship Series.

Kershaw (0-1) endured his fifth straight postseason loss after giving up the seventh playoff homer of his career.

Cardinals 4, Cubs 0

ST. LOUIS — John Lackey outpitched old teammate Jon Lester, allowing two hits into the eighth inning, and rookies Tommy Pham and Stephen Piscotty each homered late as the St. Louis Cardinals cooled off the Chicago Cubs with a 4-0 victory Friday night in the opener of their NL Division Series.

Matt Holliday had an RBI single in the first. Pinch-hitting, Pham homered off Lester and Piscotty had a two-run shot off Pedro Strop in the eighth.