In a night full of excitement and drama, player Eugenio Suárez, along with his wife Genesis, experienced a moment they will remember forever. The baseball player hit a crucial grand slam that put the Seattle Mariners one win away from reaching the American League Championship Series.
With the score 2-1 in favor of the Toronto Blue Jays in the bottom of the eighth inning, Cal Raleigh tied the game with a solo home run. Following that, Suárez hit a grand slam, his second of the night, propelling the Mariners to victory with a final score of 6-2 in Game 5 of the series.
Seattle now leads the series 3-2, and the next meeting moves to Toronto for Game 6 and, if necessary, Game 7.
Pitcher Trey Yesavage will be on the mound for the Blue Jays in the crucial Game 6. Blue Jays manager John Schneider expressed his confidence in the team, highlighting the importance of playing at home and the determination of his players.
“The only thing we can do is enjoy the flight back to Toronto, enjoy our beds in our homes and our families, and we’re going to go for it on Sunday… We’ll be ready to play. Wouldn’t want it any other way with this group. Our backs will be against the wall, great. We don’t give a damn… It’s going to be fun and I hope these guys are ready for it.”
For Suárez, this is his twelfth year in the Major Leagues. The player commented that both he and his wife had prayed for a moment like this, where his professional and personal life would merge in success and joy.
“I’ve been waiting for games like this my whole career. Today I had it. Today I had it in front of our fans, in front of my family, my two daughters, my wife, and the moment is very special right now.”
Eugenio SuárezEugenio Suárez tras conectar el jonrón que puso a Seattle al borde de su primera aparición en la Serie Mundial: “Este es el jonrón más grande de mi carrera.”The game was full of unexpected twists. The Blue Jays had dominated the Mariners in games 3 and 4. In Game 5, Toronto took a 2-1 lead thanks to a single by Ernie Clement that drove in Alejandro Kirk in the sixth inning.
The Mariners manager, Dan Wilson, made adjustments to the lineup, moving Julio Rodríguez to the first position and Josh Naylor to the fourth, while Randy Arozarena moved to the fifth spot. However, for pitcher Brendon Little, the batting order didn’t matter, as he couldn’t throw strikes.
After Raleigh tied the game with his home run, Suárez, who had hit a solo home run in the second inning, faced pitcher Seranthony Dominguez with the bases loaded.
Dominguez tried three breaking pitches, seeking to get Suarez to hit outside the strike zone, but the player held firm. With the count at 2-2, Dominguez threw a 98 mph fastball that Suarez connected with, sending the ball over the right field fence.
Suárez raised his arms to the sky and ran around the bases. T-Mobile Park vibrated with emotion. Rodríguez ran onto the field and, after regaining his composure, took the Mariners’ trident and gave it to Suárez, who raised it in the air, sharing the moment with the fans.
After the victory, Suárez entered the interview room with his two daughters, Nicolle and Melanie. The girls, who had arrived from Florida, answered the question of what was best about their father: “Hitting the home run.”
Suárez, who was heading to Toronto, expressed his gratitude and the excitement of having the opportunity to reach the World Series.
“I feel very grateful at this moment and I feel very good because we are going to Toronto with an opportunity ahead to go to a World Series.”
