Cal Raleigh homered, Jorge Polanco drove in the go-ahead run with a sixth frame single, and the Seattle Mariners defeated the Blue Jays 3-1 Sunday night as they returned to the AL Championship Series for the first time in 24 years.
Defensive Mastery on Show
George Springer launched a homer on the first pitch from Miller, who then got out of a two-on jam in a 27-delivery opening frame. Anthony Santander hit a single in the second inning for the Blue Jays' sole additional hit, and Seattle pitchers set down 23 of the Blue Jays’ final 24 batters. The pitching quartet joined forces to throw just 100 deliveries less than 48 hours after the Mariners needed 209 pitches to outlast the Tigers over 15 frames.
Key Batting Moments
Raleigh, the major league home run leader with 60, tied the score in the sixth with his ninth home run in 14 games at the Toronto ballpark. Kevin Gausman had previously kept batters hitless on splitters in the playoffs before the home run by the catcher.
Polanco hit a go-ahead single subsequently in the frame and added an run-scoring single in the eighth.
“We are a resilient squad, you know, from top to bottom,” Raleigh stated. “Pitchers came out today, really, really impressed us. They did awesome. Especially short rest and the high pitch count the previous game.”
Seattle, the AL West titleholder traveled to AL East winner Toronto on the prior day after a 3-2 win at home over the Detroit Tigers to claim the Division Series in the longest winner-take-all game in MLB history.
Record Accomplishments
The Mariners, the only MLB team to never host a World Series game, limited Toronto to just two hits after the Blue Jays had 50 hits and 34 runs in their four-game Division Series against the New York Yankees. Miller, who earned the win, struck out three and walked three in six frames, throwing 72 deliveries. The three relievers each had perfect innings, with Muñoz getting the save.
“This will be a fiercely contested series, for sure,” Toronto manager John Schneider said. “These guys will be ready for it.”
Springer’s 21st postseason home run ended a tie with the Yankees’ Derek Jeter, placing him alone in fifth position on the career list. Raleigh's home run was his fourth in 15 at-bats against Kevin Gausman, who took the loss.
Polanco, who had the game-ending single Friday, hit a single off Brendon Little to bring home Rodríguez, who was issued a walk by Gausman. Polanco later added another run-scoring hit against Domínguez.
Notable Game Highlights
Eugenio Suárez doubled against the top of the right-field fence in the seventh inning against Varland. The 395-foot hit would have been a homer in half of MLB stadiums, Seattle’s field included.
Blue Jays outfielder Nathan Lukes exited in the fourth. Lukes sustained a right knee bruise when he fouled a pitch off it in the first inning.
