🔗 Share this article Raleigh Hits Home Run as Mariners Overpower Blue Jays in Much-Anticipated Return to AL Championship Series Cal Raleigh homered, Jorge Polanco drove in the go-ahead run with a sixth frame single, and the Mariners overcame the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 on Sunday evening as they made their return to the ALCS for the first time in two dozen years. Pitching Mastery on Display George Springer homered on the first pitch from Miller, who then got out of a bases-threatening situation in a 27-pitch first inning. Anthony Santander singled in the second for the Blue Jays' only other hit, and Seattle pitchers set down 23 of the Blue Jays’ final 24 batters. The pitching quartet joined forces to throw just 100 deliveries less than 48 hours after the Seattle team needed 209 pitches to outlast the Tigers over 15 frames. Key Offensive Plays Raleigh, the major league home run leader with 60, tied the score in the sixth with his ninth homer in 14 games at Rogers Centre. Kevin Gausman had previously kept batters hitless on splitters in the postseason before the home run by the catcher. Polanco delivered a go-ahead base hit later in the inning and added an RBI single in the eighth inning. “We are a resilient squad, as you know, from top to bottom,” Raleigh stated. “Our pitchers performed today, really, really impressed us. They did awesome. Especially short rest and the high pitch count the previous game.” Seattle, the AL West titleholder journeyed to Toronto, the AL East champion on Saturday after a 3-2 win at home over the Tigers to claim the Division Series in the most extended decisive contest in MLB history. Historic Achievements Seattle, the only MLB team to never host a World Series game, held Toronto to two hits after the Toronto squad had 50 hits along with 34 runs in their four-game Division Series against the Yankees. Miller, who earned the win, struck out three and walked three in six innings, throwing 72 deliveries. The three relievers each had perfect innings, with Muñoz securing the save. “This will be a fiercely contested series, for sure,” Toronto manager John Schneider said. “These guys will be ready for it.” Springer's 21st playoff homer broke a tie with the Yankees’ Derek Jeter, moving him into sole possession of fifth place on the all-time list. Raleigh’s homer was his fourth in 15 appearances against Kevin Gausman, who suffered the defeat. Polanco, the hero of Friday's game, singled against Brendon Little to drive in Rodríguez, who was issued a walk by Gausman. Polanco later added another run-scoring hit against Domínguez. Memorable Contest Highlights Eugenio Suárez doubled off the top of the right-field wall in the seventh inning against Varland. The 395-foot drive would have been a homer in 15 of 30 big league ballparks, Seattle’s field included. Blue Jays outfielder Nathan Lukes exited in the fourth. Lukes sustained a right knee bruise when he fouled a ball into his knee in the opening frame.