Cal Raleigh homered and Jorge Polanco drove in a pair of key runs as the Seattle Mariners opened the American League Championship Series with a 3-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday night at Rogers Centre.
Playing in their first ALCS in 24 years, the Mariners continued their postseason momentum behind a composed outing from rookie right-hander Bryce Miller and a flawless bullpen effort that stifled the Toronto lineup.
The Blue Jays jumped ahead early when George Springer led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run on Miller’s very first pitch. Toronto seemed poised to add more, loading up two runners later in the inning, but Miller escaped the jam after a taxing 27-pitch frame. From there, the Mariners’ pitching staff was nearly untouchable.
After allowing an Anthony Santander single in the second, Seattle pitchers retired 23 of the final 24 Blue Jays they faced. Miller, followed by relievers Gabe Speier, Matt Brash, and Andrés Muñoz, combined to throw just 100 pitches while keeping Toronto off the board for the final eight innings.
Raleigh, who led the majors with 60 home runs during the regular season, tied the game in the sixth with a towering solo shot—his ninth homer in 14 career games at Rogers Centre. The blast came off Kevin Gausman, who had previously held opponents hitless in 16 at-bats this postseason on his devastating splitter.
Polanco followed later in the inning with a sharp single to center, driving in the go-ahead run to put Seattle ahead 2-1. He added an insurance RBI single in the eighth to extend the lead to 3-1.
Muñoz worked a spotless ninth to earn the save, sealing Seattle’s first ALCS win since 2001.
The Mariners now lead the best-of-seven series 1-0 and will look to build on their momentum when Game 2 takes place Monday night in Toronto.
