Cal Raleigh Homers as Seattle Mariners Overpower Toronto Blue Jays in Long-Awaited Comeback to ALCS

Cal Raleigh blasted a home run, Jorge Polanco delivered the go-ahead run with a sixth-inning single, and the Seattle Mariners overcame the Blue Jays 3-1 Sunday night as they returned to the ALCS for the initial occasion in two dozen years.

Pitching Mastery on Display

George Springer homered on the first pitch from Miller, who then escaped a two-on jam in a 27-pitch opening frame. Anthony Santander singled in the second for the Blue Jays' only other hit, and Mariners pitchers set down 23 out of the final 24 Toronto hitters. The pitching quartet combined to throw just 100 deliveries under two days after the Mariners needed 209 pitches to outlast Detroit over 15 frames.

Key Batting Moments

Raleigh, the major league home run leader with 60, tied the score in the sixth with his ninth homer in 14 games at Rogers Centre. Kevin Gausman had held batters to 0 for 16 on splitters in the playoffs before the home run by the catcher.

Polanco hit a go-ahead single later in the inning and added an run-scoring single in the eighth inning.

“We are a resilient squad, as you know, one through nine,” Raleigh said. “Our pitchers performed today, really, really impressed us. They did awesome. Particularly on short rest and the high pitch count the previous game.”

Seattle, the AL West titleholder journeyed to Toronto, the AL East champion on Saturday after a 3-2 win at home over the Tigers to win the Division Series in the most extended decisive contest in Major League Baseball history.

Record Achievements

Seattle, 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 and 34 runs in their four-game playoff series against the 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 securing the save.

“This is going to be a hard-fought series, man,” Toronto manager John Schneider said. “These guys will be ready for it.”

Springer's 21st playoff homer broke a tie with the Derek Jeter of the Yankees, placing him alone in fifth position on the career list. Raleigh's home run was his fourth in 15 at-bats against Gausman, who suffered the defeat.

Polanco, who had the game-ending single Friday, singled against Brendon Little to bring home Rodríguez, who was issued a walk by the pitcher. Polanco later added another run-scoring hit against Seranthony Domínguez.

Notable Game Highlights

Eugenio Suárez doubled against the top of the right-field fence in the seventh against Varland. The 395-foot hit would have been a homer in half of MLB stadiums, including Seattle.

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.