Mariners a win from first World Series, beat Blue Jays behind Suárez’s grand slam for 3-2 ALCS lead
SEATTLE AP Eugenio Su rez hit a go-ahead grand slam after Cal Raleigh s tying drive in a five-run eighth inning giving the Seattle Mariners a - win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday and a - lead in the American League Championship Series Su rez also homered in the second inning for Seattle s first run The Mariners became the first home band to win in the series and moved within a achievement of the first World Series trip for a franchise that started play in Competition is at Toronto on Sunday night For our fans they ve waiting a long time for this moment and we re here to give it to them We re here to fight for a World Series Su rez disclosed Raleigh a switch-hitting catcher who led the major leagues with home runs during the regular season was hitting right-handed for the first time in the series when he led off the eighth by pulling a - changeup from loser Brendon Little The -foot drive rose feet above the field on a high arc and had a -second hang time before it dropped over the left field wall at T-Mobile Park feet from the plate Raleigh s fourth homer of the postseason tied the sum - Obviously it was really high so you never know in this building Raleigh revealed Luckily in the present day the roof s closed Jorge Polanco and Josh Naylor walked and Seranthony Dom nguez relieved and hit Randy Arozarena with a pitch Su rez fouled off a - fastball then hit an opposite-field drive to right and the ball landed several rows into the seats for his fourth slam this season Obviously this is the biggest home run of my career Su rez explained Su rez who had put Seattle ahead in the second against Kevin Gausman entered the championship in a -for- slump He was acquired from Arizona at the pact deadline finished the regular season with homers and has three in the playoffs I ve been waiting for this for a long time Su rez disclosed It s been a while since I ve had a tournament like this in the modern day It was awesome being to hit that grand slam there to give the win to my company to the fans They ve been here supporting us all year long Seattle s Bryce Miller was pitching shutout ball when he was removed after allowing Addison Barger s leadoff single in the fifth and George Springer hit an RBI double off Matt Brash Springer left in the seventh when he was hit on the right kneecap by a mph sinker from Bryan Woo He s got a right knee contusion He had X-rays which were negative which is a good thing Blue Jays manager John Schneider stated George is about as tough as they come I think he ll have to really really be hurting to not be in the lineup on Sunday Pitching for the first time since Sept after recovering from pectoral tightness Woo allowed Ernie Clement s go-ahead single in the sixth Toronto wasted plenty of chances going for with runners in scoring position Raleigh turned only the second - grounded double into play in postseason history when Clement tapped the ball onto the plate with the bases loaded and one out in the fourth inning Raleigh grabbed the ball with a foot on the plate for a forceout then threw to first The prior - DP in Battle of the ALCS also was turned by a Seattle catcher Dan Wilson now the Mariners manager Up next Rookie RHP Trey Yesavage who started Competition of both the AL Division Series will start for the Blue Jays in Competition The Mariners scored five runs off the -year-old on Monday AP MLB https apnews com hub mlb Source
