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Mariners Stun Blue Jays to Gain Control of ALCS
The Seattle Mariners' improbable postseason surge continued as they edged the Toronto Blue Jays 6-2 in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series, bringing them one win away from their first World Series appearance. Eugenio Suárez's game-winning grand slam proved to be the difference-maker, breaking a tie in the eighth inning and sending the Mariners' bench into jubilation.
The decisive moment came when Cal Raleigh led off the inning with a towering solo homer, giving the Mariners a 3-2 lead and knotting the series at two games apiece. However, Toronto refused to back down, answering with a run of their own in the sixth inning via Bryan Woo's lone relief appearance.
Seattle took control once more when Suárez blasted an opposite-field grand slam off Brendon Little, shattering the Blue Jays' spirits and giving his team a commanding 6-2 lead. The Mariners closer Andres Munoz sealed the deal with a scoreless ninth, as Seattle secured their spot just one win away from the World Series.
The Blue Jays, meanwhile, were dealt a setback when George Springer was forced to exit the game in the seventh inning after being hit by a pitch on his right knee. While the extent of the injury remains unknown, it could prove significant for Toronto's chances in the series.
Seattle starter Bryce Miller, who pitched four-plus innings, and Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman, who went five and two-thirds innings, combined to stifle what promised to be an explosive offense, but ultimately succumbed to the Mariners' timely hitting. Suárez's 14th home run of the postseason has become a signature moment for Seattle, while Raleigh's fourth playoff homer cemented his status as one of the AL's top sluggers.
Sunday's Game 6 at Toronto would provide the deciding factor in this captivating series, with the winner advancing to the World Series and the loser facing an early exit from contention.
The Seattle Mariners' improbable postseason surge continued as they edged the Toronto Blue Jays 6-2 in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series, bringing them one win away from their first World Series appearance. Eugenio Suárez's game-winning grand slam proved to be the difference-maker, breaking a tie in the eighth inning and sending the Mariners' bench into jubilation.
The decisive moment came when Cal Raleigh led off the inning with a towering solo homer, giving the Mariners a 3-2 lead and knotting the series at two games apiece. However, Toronto refused to back down, answering with a run of their own in the sixth inning via Bryan Woo's lone relief appearance.
Seattle took control once more when Suárez blasted an opposite-field grand slam off Brendon Little, shattering the Blue Jays' spirits and giving his team a commanding 6-2 lead. The Mariners closer Andres Munoz sealed the deal with a scoreless ninth, as Seattle secured their spot just one win away from the World Series.
The Blue Jays, meanwhile, were dealt a setback when George Springer was forced to exit the game in the seventh inning after being hit by a pitch on his right knee. While the extent of the injury remains unknown, it could prove significant for Toronto's chances in the series.
Seattle starter Bryce Miller, who pitched four-plus innings, and Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman, who went five and two-thirds innings, combined to stifle what promised to be an explosive offense, but ultimately succumbed to the Mariners' timely hitting. Suárez's 14th home run of the postseason has become a signature moment for Seattle, while Raleigh's fourth playoff homer cemented his status as one of the AL's top sluggers.
Sunday's Game 6 at Toronto would provide the deciding factor in this captivating series, with the winner advancing to the World Series and the loser facing an early exit from contention.