By Andrew Destin
SEATTLE (AP) — Eugenio Suárez hit a go-ahead grand slam after Cal Raleigh’s tying drive in a five-run eighth inning, giving the Seattle Mariners a 6-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday and a 3-2 lead within the American League Championship Collection.
Suárez additionally homered within the second inning for Seattle’s first run. The Mariners grew to become the primary dwelling group to win within the collection and moved inside a victory of the primary World Collection journey for a franchise that began play in 1977.
Recreation 6 is at Toronto on Sunday evening.
“For our fans, they’ve been 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,” Suárez mentioned.
Raleigh, a switch-hitting catcher who led the foremost leagues with 60 dwelling runs through the common season, was hitting right-handed for the primary time within the collection when he led off the eighth by pulling a 2-0 changeup from loser Brendon Little.
The 348-foot drive rose 155 ft above the sphere on a excessive arc and had a 6.7-second dangle time earlier than it dropped over the left subject wall at T-Cell Park, 348 ft from the plate.
“It felt like Cal’s ball was in the air for like an hour,” Mariners supervisor Dan Wilson mentioned.
Raleigh’s fourth homer of the postseason tied the rating 2-2.
“Obviously it was really high, so you never know in this building,” Raleigh mentioned. “Luckily today the roof’s closed.”
Jorge Polanco and Josh Naylor walked, and Seranthony Domínguez relieved and hit Randy Arozarena with a pitch.
Suárez fouled off a 2-2 fastball, then hit an opposite-field drive to proper, and the ball landed a number of rows into the seats for his fourth slam this season.
“Obviously, this is the biggest home run of my career,” Suárez mentioned.
Suárez, who had put Seattle forward within the second towards Kevin Gausman, entered the sport in a 6-for-50 droop. He was acquired from Arizona on the commerce deadline, completed the common season with 49 homers and has three within the playoffs.
“I’ve been waiting for this for a long time,” Suárez mentioned. “It’s been a while (since) I’ve had a game like this today. It was awesome being able to hit that grand slam there to give the win to my team, to the fans. They’ve been here supporting us all year long.”
Seattle’s Bryce Miller was pitching shutout ball when he was eliminated after permitting Addison Barger’s leadoff single within the fifth, and George Springer hit an RBI double off Matt Brash.
Springer left within the seventh when he was hit on the proper kneecap by a 95.6 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 supervisor John Schneider mentioned. “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 primary time since Sept. 19 after recovering from pectoral tightness, Woo allowed Ernie Clement’s go-ahead single within the sixth.
Gabe Speier bought the win with an ideal, nine-pitch eighth inning. Toronto wasted many possibilities, going 2 for 11 with runners in scoring place.
Raleigh turned solely the second 2-3 grounded double into play in postseason historical past when Clement tapped the ball onto the plate with the bases loaded and one out within the fourth inning. Raleigh grabbed the ball with a foot on the plate for a forceout, then threw to first.
The prior 2-3 DP in Recreation 2 of the 2000 ALCS was turned by Wilson with the New York Yankees’ Bernie Williams on the plate.
“That’s what he’s done all season long, both sides of the ball,” Wilson mentioned of Raleigh.
Up nextRookie RHP Trey Yesavage, who began Recreation 2 of each the AL Division Collection, will begin for the Blue Jays in Recreation 6. The Mariners scored 5 runs off the 22-year-old on Monday.
