Cal Raleigh homered, Jorge Polanco drove in the go-ahead run with a sixth frame single, and the Mariners defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 Sunday night as they made their return to the ALCS for the initial occasion in 24 years.
George Springer homered on the first pitch from Miller, who then escaped a two-on jam in a 27-delivery first inning. Anthony Santander hit a single in the second inning for Torontoâs only other hit, and Seattle pitchers retired 23 of the Blue Jaysâ final 24 batters. The pitching quartet combined to throw just 100 deliveries under two days after the Mariners needed 209 throws to outlast the Tigers over 15 innings.
Raleigh, who led the major leagues with 60 homers, evened the game in the sixth with his ninth homer in 14 appearances at the Toronto ballpark. Kevin Gausman had held batters to 0 for 16 on splitters in the postseason before the home run by the catcher.
Polanco hit a go-ahead single later in the inning and contributed an run-scoring single in the eighth.
âWeâre a tough team, as you know, one through nine,â Raleigh stated. âOur pitchers performed today, really, really impressed us. They did awesome. Especially short rest and the high pitch count the other day.â
Seattle, the AL West titleholder traveled to AL East winner Toronto on Saturday after a 3-2 home victory over the Detroit Tigers to claim the Division Series in the longest winner-take-all game in MLB history.
Seattle, the sole MLB franchise to never host a Fall Classic game, held Toronto to two hits after the Toronto squad had 50 hits along with 34 runs in their four-game Division Series against the New York Yankees. Miller, the winner, struck out three and walked three in six innings, throwing 72 deliveries. The bullpen trio each had 1-2-3 innings, with Muñoz getting the save.
âThis is going to be a hard-fought series, for sure,â Blue Jays manager John Schneider commented. âOur team will be prepared for it.â
Springer's 21st playoff homer broke a tie with the Yankeesâ Derek Jeter, placing him alone in fifth position on the all-time 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, singled against Brendon Little to bring home Julio RodrĂguez, who was walked by the pitcher. Polanco later added another run-scoring hit against DomĂnguez.
Eugenio SuĂĄrez doubled off the top of the right-field wall in the seventh inning against Louis Varland. The 395-foot hit would have been a homer in half of MLB stadiums, including Seattle.
Toronto outfielder Nathan Lukes left in the fourth inning. Lukes bruised his right knee when he fouled a pitch off it in the first inning.
Elena Hartwell is a multidisciplinary artist and educator passionate about fostering creative communities in London.