Raleigh Homers as Seattle Mariners Defeat Blue Jays in Long-Awaited Return to ALCS
Cal Raleigh homered, Jorge Polanco delivered the decisive run with a sixth frame single, and the Mariners defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 Sunday night as they returned to the AL Championship Series for the first time in 24 years.
Pitching Dominance on Display
George Springer homered on the first pitch from Miller, who then got out of a two-on jam in a 27-delivery opening frame. Anthony Santander singled in the second inning for Toronto’s only other hit, and Mariners pitchers retired 23 of the Blue Jays’ final 24 batters. The pitching quartet combined to throw just 100 pitches less than 48 hours after the Seattle team needed 209 throws to outplay Detroit over 15 innings.
Crucial Offensive Moments
Raleigh, the major league home run leader with 60, tied the score in the sixth with his ninth homer in 14 games at the Toronto ballpark. Kevin Gausman had previously kept batters hitless on splitters in the playoffs before the homer by the catcher.
Polanco delivered a go-ahead base hit later in the inning and contributed an RBI single in the eighth inning.
“We’re a tough team, you know, one through nine,” Raleigh stated. “Pitchers came out today, really, really impressed us. They were outstanding. Especially short rest and the high pitch count the previous game.”
AL West champion Seattle traveled to AL East winner Toronto on Saturday after a 3-2 win at home over the Tigers to claim the Division Series in the longest winner-take-all game in Major League Baseball history.
Historic Achievements
The Mariners, the only MLB team to not have hosted a Fall Classic game, limited Toronto to just two hits after the Toronto squad had 50 hits along with 34 runs in their four-game playoff series against the New York Yankees. Miller, who earned the win, struck out three and walked three in six innings, throwing 72 pitches. The three relievers each had perfect innings, with Muñoz getting the save.
“This will be a fiercely contested series, man,” Toronto manager John Schneider said. “These guys will be ready for it.”
Springer's 21st playoff homer broke a tie with the Yankees’ Derek Jeter, moving him into sole possession of fifth place on the career list. Raleigh’s homer was his fourth in 15 at-bats against Kevin Gausman, who suffered the defeat.
Polanco, the hero of Friday's game, hit a single off Brendon Little to drive in Julio Rodríguez, who was walked by the pitcher. Polanco added another RBI single against Seranthony Domínguez.
Memorable Contest Highlights
Eugenio Suárez hit a double off the top of the right-field wall in the seventh against Louis Varland. The 395-foot drive would have been a home run in 15 of 30 big league ballparks, Seattle’s field included.
Blue Jays outfielder Nathan Lukes exited in the fourth. Lukes bruised his right knee when he fouled a pitch off it in the opening frame.
