Cal Raleigh homered, Jorge Polanco delivered the go-ahead run with a sixth frame single, and the Seattle Mariners defeated the Blue Jays 3-1 on Sunday evening as they returned to the ALCS for the first time in two dozen years.
George Springer homered on the first pitch from Miller, who then escaped a two-on jam in a 27-pitch first inning. Anthony Santander singled in the second inning for Torontoâs only other hit, and Mariners pitchers set down 23 of the Blue Jaysâ final 24 batters. The pitching quartet joined forces to throw just 100 deliveries under two days after the Seattle team needed 209 pitches to outlast Detroit over 15 frames.
Raleigh, who led the major leagues with 60 homers, tied the score in the sixth inning with his ninth homer in 14 games at Rogers Centre. Kevin Gausman had previously kept batters hitless on splitters in the playoffs before the homer by Raleigh.
Polanco hit a go-ahead single later in the inning and contributed an RBI single in the eighth inning.
âWe are a resilient squad, you know, one through nine,â Raleigh said. âOur pitchers performed today, extremely impressive. They did awesome. Particularly on short rest and how many pitches they threw the other day.â
Seattle, the AL West titleholder traveled 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.
Seattle, the only MLB team to never host a Fall Classic game, held Toronto to two hits after the Blue Jays had 50 hits and 34 runs in their four-game playoff series against the New York Yankees. Miller, the winner, fanned three and issued three walks in six innings, throwing 72 deliveries. The bullpen trio each had perfect innings, with Muñoz getting the save.
âThis is going to be a hard-fought series, for sure,â Toronto manager John Schneider commented. âThese guys will be ready for it.â
Springer's 21st playoff homer broke a tie with the Yankeesâ Derek Jeter, moving him into sole possession of fifth place on the all-time list. Raleighâs homer 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 drive in Julio RodrĂguez, who was issued a walk by the pitcher. Polanco later added another run-scoring hit against Seranthony DomĂnguez.
Eugenio SuĂĄrez hit a double against the top of the right-field fence in the seventh against Varland. The 395-foot hit would have been a home run in half of MLB stadiums, Seattleâs field included.
Blue Jays outfielder Nathan Lukes left in the fourth inning. Lukes bruised his right knee when he fouled a ball into his knee in the opening frame.
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