The Toronto Blue Jays are heading to their first World Series since 1993. The Blue Jays completed an incredible comeback in more than one way on Monday night, defeating the Seattle Mariners by a 4-3 final in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series.
It was the Mariners, not the Blue Jays, who held the advantage for most of Game 7. The top of Seattle’s order stepped up in a big way in search of the franchise’s first World Series appearance. Julio Rodríguez doubled to lead off the game and then scored on a Josh Naylor single. The Blue Jays would even the game in the bottom of the first, but Rodríguez and MVP hopeful Cal Raleigh each launched solo home runs to give the Mariners a 2-1 and then a 3-1 advantage heading into the late stages.
George Springer, whose status for Games 6 and 7 was in doubt after he suffered a knee contusion when an errant pitch from Bryan Woo forced his exit from Game 5, provided the transformative blow. Coincidentally, Woo was removed from the contest as Springer came to the plate in the bottom of the seventh favor of Eduard Bazardo. It made no difference, as Springer took advantage of having two runners aboard and launched a three-run shot that turned a 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 lead. Observe:
Springer, having enjoyed a prosperous postseason career with the Houston Astros before signing with the Blue Jays as a free agent, added to his legacy with the blast. He’s now tied with Kyle Schwarber for the third-most career playoff home runs with 23. Only Manny Ramirez (29) and Springer’s old Houston teammate Jose Altuve (27) have more. Clearly Springer will have more chances to close the gap over the coming days, thanks in large part to his heroics on Monday night.
The Blue Jays also recorded a come-from-behind win in another sense. Remember, Toronto lost the first two games of this best-of-seven series. Historically, teams to do that in the MLB playoffs have then lost said series on more than 80% of occasions. The Blue Jays are the third team to do so in the past 20 years, joining the 2023 Arizona Diamondbacks (over the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLCS) and the 2020 Los Angeles Dodgers (over the Atlanta Braves, also in the NLCS).
The Blue Jays defied the odds, winning consecutive games in Seattle to even the set at 2-2 before then taking Games 6 and 7 at home to stave off elimination and advance for a World Series date against the Dodgers. Those teams will have a few days off to rest and reorganize. Game 1 is set for Friday in Toronto.
