Complex sentence: Merritt started Game 5 of the 2016 American League Championship Series, just his second major league start; he pitched 4 1/3 shutout innings against Toronto, giving up two hits and striking out three.
Split into simpler sentences: Merritt started game 5 of the 2016 American League Championship Series, just his second major league start. Ryan pitched 4 1/3 innings of shutout baseball in Game 5 of the ALCS at Toronto, giving up two hits and striking out three.