TORONTO — George Springer made history in the opening seconds of Sunday’s American League Championship Series opener. His team couldn’t sustain the magic.
The Toronto Blue Jays center fielder launched the first pitch from Seattle starter Bryce Miller deep into the right-field bullpen, becoming the first player in franchise history to hit a leadoff home run in the postseason. That electrifying moment was Toronto’s only celebration of the night as the Mariners quieted Rogers Centre with a steady 3-1 victory.
Seattle’s win marked its first ALCS victory since 2001, snapping a 24-year drought that had defined an entire generation of Mariners baseball.
Record breaker starts with a bang
Springer’s 385-foot drive off Miller’s opening fastball sent more than 49,000 fans into a frenzy. The shot carried significance beyond the early 1-0 lead.
The 36-year-old moved ahead of Yankees legend Derek Jeter into sole possession of fifth place on the all-time postseason home run list with his 21st career homer. Only Manny Ramirez (29), Jose Altuve (27), Kyle Schwarber (23) and Bernie Williams (22) are now ahead of him.
Springer also became the second-oldest player ever to hit a leadoff home run in the playoffs. His 63 regular-season leadoff blasts trail only Rickey Henderson’s 81.
Adding to the meaning, Springer wore custom Hartford Whalers batting gloves, a nod to his Connecticut roots and his college career at UConn. He plans to donate them to the Hockey Hall of Fame when Toronto’s postseason run ends.
Mariners respond with ruthless efficiency
Miller survived the first-inning damage despite needing 27 pitches to get through it. Anthony Santander’s single in the second inning was Toronto’s only other hit of the night.
What followed was a display of pitching and defense from Seattle.
Mariners pitchers set down 23 of the final 24 Blue Jays batters, shutting down a Toronto lineup that had crushed the Yankees for 50 hits and 34 runs over four Division Series games, holding them to only two total hits.
The performance was even more notable given that Seattle had thrown 209 pitches less than 48 hours earlier in a 15-inning victory over Detroit, the longest winner-take-all game in Major League Baseball history.
Raleigh delivers the equalizer
Cal Raleigh, who led the majors with 60 home runs during the regular season, tied the game in the sixth with his ninth homer in 14 games at Rogers Centre.
The blast came off Toronto starter Kevin Gausman’s trademark splitter. Before Raleigh’s swing, opposing hitters were 0-for-16 against that pitch in the postseason.
“We’re a tough team, you know, one through nine,” Raleigh said. “Pitchers came out today, really, really impressed us. They did awesome. Especially short rest and how many pitches they threw the other day.”
Polanco provides the knockout punch
Jorge Polanco, who delivered a game-ending single against Detroit on Friday, came through again in the sixth. He singled against Brendon Little to bring home Julio Rodriguez, who had drawn a walk from Gausman moments earlier.
That RBI gave Seattle its first lead. Polanco later added insurance with another RBI single in the eighth off Seranthony Dominguez.
Blue Jays offense disappears after hot start
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. entered the game swinging hot after going 9-for-17 with three homers and nine RBIs against the Yankees in the Division Series.
Seattle shut him down. Guerrero went 0-for-4 with three groundouts, unable to find a rhythm against Miller and the Mariners’ bullpen.
Toronto’s sudden offensive silence contrasted sharply with its explosion against the Yankees, raising questions about its ability to adjust to different styles of pitching.
Injury compounds disappointing opener
Toronto’s frustrations extended beyond the scoreboard. Outfielder Nathan Lukes left in the fourth inning after fouling a pitch off his right knee in the first.
Lukes initially stayed in, drawing a 12-pitch walk and flying out in the third. Myles Straw replaced him to start the fourth. The team said Lukes bruised his knee and was undergoing further evaluation.
Pitching efficiency defines Seattle’s victory
Miller earned the win after striking out three and walking three in six innings, throwing only 72 pitches.
Gabe Speier, Matt Brash and Andres Munoz each worked perfect innings in relief. Munoz picked up the save as the four pitchers combined to complete the game on just 100 pitches.
The efficiency underlined Seattle’s pitching depth and preparation, remarkable given the heavy workload from their previous series.
Eugenio Suarez nearly added to the lead in the seventh with a double off the top of the right-field wall against Louis Varland. The 395-foot drive would have been a home run in 15 of 30 MLB parks, including Seattle’s.
Battle tested teams ready for war
Toronto manager John Schneider acknowledged the challenge after seeing his lineup shut down by Seattle’s staff.
“This is going to be a hard-fought series, man,” Schneider said. “These guys will be ready for it.”
The Blue Jays had hoped to reach their first World Series since 1993 after dispatching the Yankees and silencing New York’s powerful offense. Instead, they face a 1-0 deficit against a Mariners team still seeking its first World Series appearance but hungry to make history.
Seattle’s AL West title carried them past the Yankees’ crosstown rivals and into new territory. Their previous ALCS trip in 2001 ended in disappointment, but this roster believes the ending will be different.
Game 2 continues Tuesday night in Toronto as both clubs chase the pennant and a chance to reach the World Series.
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