Eugenio Suárez: The Seattle Hero Driving the Mariners to the World Series
In a night full of emotions, Eugenio Suárez and his wife Génesis Suárez saw their dream come true. The player hit a spectacular grand slam that put the Seattle Mariners one win away from the American League Championship Series.
With the Mariners down 2-1 in the bottom of the eighth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays, Cal Raleigh tied the game with a solo home run. Four batters later, Suárez hit a grand slam, his second of the game, to give Seattle the lead and lead them to a 6-2 victory in Game 5 of the series.
Seattle now leads the series 3-2, and the team heads to Toronto for Game 6 and, if necessary, Game 7.
“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,” Suárez declared.
Eugenio Suárez
Eugenio Suárez celebra su jonrón. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)The game was full of unexpected twists. The Blue Jays had dominated 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.
In the eighth inning, the Jays’ manager relied on reliever Brendon Little, but Raleigh hit a fly ball that tied the game. Then, Suárez became the hero.
Wilson made some adjustments to the lineup, moving Julio Rodriguez to the first spot and Josh Naylor to the fourth, but Little’s strategy didn’t work. After Little issued walks to Jorge Polanco and Naylor, Seranthony Dominguez came in to relieve, hitting Randy Arozarena, which set the stage for Suarez’s grand slam.
Suárez, who played for the Mariners in 2022 and 2023, has built a reputation as a good teammate and positive personality. Despite some difficulties in the regular season and in the playoffs, Suárez proved his worth at the most crucial moment.
Domínguez tried to strike out Suárez with three breaking pitches, but Suárez stood firm. In a 2-2 count, Domínguez threw a 98 mph fastball, and Suárez hit a home run over the fence.
T-Mobile Park erupted in jubilation. Rodriguez, excited, ran onto the field and handed the Mariners’ trident to Suarez, who raised it in a sign of celebration.
After the game, Suárez shared the moment with his daughters, Nicolle and Melanie, who arrived from Florida. Nicolle responded to the question of what was the best thing about her father: “Hitting the home run.”
With the victory, the Mariners travel to Toronto with the opportunity to secure their place in 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 the World Series,” concluded Suárez.
