In an exciting American League Championship Series encounter, the Seattle Mariners managed to steal home-field advantage by defeating the Blue Jays with a score of 3-1 in Toronto. This triumph came after a journey full of setbacks and a previous victory that pushed the team to its limits. After an exhausting 15-inning game against the Detroit Tigers, which culminated in the early hours of the morning, the Mariners were preparing for their trip to Toronto. However, mechanical problems delayed their flight, forcing them to wait at T-Mobile Park for more than four hours. Finally, the team arrived in Toronto at 10:15 p.m., settling into their hotel after 11. Despite these difficulties, the Mariners prevailed in the first game, thanks to an outstanding performance by Bryce Miller on the mound, a crucial home run by Cal Raleigh, and timely hitting from Jorge Polanco, who shone in the fifth game of the Divisional Series.
The difference in the preparation of the starting pitchers was evident. Kevin Gausman of the Blue Jays had more than a week of rest, while Miller only had three days after his performance against the Tigers. The game began with a home run by George Springer for the Blue Jays, but Miller managed to limit the home team to one run in six innings. Miller showed great resilience, retiring 17 of the last 19 batters he faced. His fastball averaged 96.3 mph, the highest of his 76 career starts. Cal Raleigh hit a home run that tied the game, silencing the home crowd. Polanco drove in the go-ahead run with a single, and then extended the lead with another single. The Blue Jays failed to react after Springer’s home run, and the Mariners relied on their closer, Andrés Muñoz, to secure the victory.“We’ve talked about how resilient these guys are,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson commented. “And tonight was another example of that.”
Dan Wilson
