Jose Fernandez never pitched in a playoff game for the Marlins. But his presence was felt in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series on Saturday between the Houston Astros and New York Yankees.
Houston pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. said he drew inspiration from Fernandez before recording the final out to send the Astros to the World Series. Just before facing Greg Bird with two outs in the ninth, McCullers told The New York Times that he paused briefly to think about Fernandez, who was his friend and offseason workout partner.
"I said, ‘Hey, show what you got, because Jose would,’ " McCullers said.