10/12/25

(Toronto, ON) After a night of celebrating just 48 hours earlier, the Seattle Mariners got back to business on Sunday night as they traveled to Toronto for Game 1 of the American League Championship Series against the Toronto Blue Jays. Two rivals who both entered the league in 1977 were set to square off for the second time in the postseason with Seattle sweeping Toronto in the 2022 Wild Card Series. There was a lot more on the line this time as Seattle is looking to advance to their first ever World Series while the Jays were looking to get back to the Fall Classic for the first time since 1993 when they won their second in a row.

Pitching lined up much better for Toronto as they had not played since Wednesday when they finished off their series with the New York Yankees. Kevin Gausman would get the ball with plenty of rest. On the other side, Bryce Miller would pitch for the second time in five days with a bulk of Seattle’s starters unavailable and a gassed bullpen after the 15-inning marathon two nights before.

Mariners 3, Blue Jays 1 (Game 1, Seattle Leads Series 1-0)

Seattle put some pressure on Kevin Gausman early in this one. Cal Raleigh singled with one out for the first hit of the ALCS. Julio Rodríguez followed in his steps with a base hit to center to move Raleigh to third and put runners on the corners with just one out for Jorge Polanco. The hero from Friday night would chop one to third base where Addison Barger fielded it and came up throwing to the plate to get Cal Raleigh on a very close play for a second out and cut down a Seattle run. Josh Naylor lined one to center but Daulton Varsho was there to end the initial threat and keep the M’s off the board early.

In the bottom of the 1st, Bryce Miller took the mound and did not receive a friendly Canadian welcome. On Miller’s first pitch of the game, George Springer drove a fly ball the other way to right field for a solo shot and the first, first pitch home run in the ALCS since Springer hit one in 2020 against Tampa Bay. One pitch in and Toronto had a 1-0 lead but Miller wasn’t out of trouble. Walks to Nathan Lukes and Addison Barger put two on with one out as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. lined out to Julio in center. A taxing 1st wouldn’t get to Big Tex as Miller got Alejandro Kirk to pop out to Jorge Polanco before Daulton Varsho lined out to J-Rod to keep it a 1-0 game after 26 pitches from Bryce Miller.

A single by Anthony Santander turned into a double when the ball got by Victor Robles on an error, but Bryce Miller stranded him and locked in after that. He would retire the next 11 Blue Jays he faced while also fixing his pitch count and continued to eat innings to help out the bullpen. Miller was fired up after the bottom of the 5th, but Seattle was still lacking on offense, trailing 1-0.

Then in the 6th, Seattle got their spark. With nobody on and two outs, Cal Raleigh continued his dominance in Toronto and his success against Kevin Gausman. A 2-2 splitter at the bottom of the zone did not get to the outside corner and Cal clobbered it out to right field for his 62nd home run of 2025. With one swing the Mariners had tied it at 1-1.

That one swing sparked a rally as J-Rod drew a walk to end Gausman’s day after 5 2/3. It would be a lefty in Brendon Little coming on for Toronto but a wild pitch from him moved Julio into scoring position. Jorge Polanco once again would execute in a big spot for the Mariners. Polo laced a base hit into left field and brought in Julio without a throw. Three consecutive Mariners reached with two outs and they had their first lead of the ALCS, 2-1.

Bryce Miller would go back out for the 6th which nobody anticipated coming into the game. Miller stayed hot with two outs on six pitches, getting Myles Straw and Vladdy Jr. to take some pressure off and some air out of the Rogers Centre. A walk to Addison Barger ended his streak of 13 consecutive retired and in his mind, ended his outing. However, it would be pitching coach Pete Woodworth instead of Dan Wilson coming out to talk to Miller and they kept him in to face Alejandro Kirk. It would payoff as Kirk flew out to Arozarena in left to end the inning. An outstanding performance for Bryce Miller was complete as he went six innings of one run ball, allowing just two hits with three walks and three strikeouts. In the biggest outing of his career, Bryce Miller stole the show and put the M’s in a great spot for Game 1 and the rest of the series.

Louis Varland pitched around a double by Eugenio Suárez in the 7th that missed leaving the yard by just a few inches. Gabe Speier picked up where Bryce Miller left off with a 1-2-3 bottom of the 7th thanks to a diving catch by Randy Arozarena. Seranthony Domínguez came on for Toronto in the 8th and walked Arozarena to begin the inning. Chaos ensued as Arozarena stole second and third to get himself 90-feet away with one out. J-Rod walked but it would be Jorge Polanco doing more damage. A grounder snuck through into right field for a base hit to score Arozarena to make it 3-1. Mason Fluharty would end the inning keeping the lead at just two for Seattle.

Matt Brash spun a 1-2-3 8th and it would be Andrés Muñoz for the 9th. The All-Star closer started the inning with authority, getting Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to groundout to J.P. Crawford at short to get the first out. Addison Barger did not fare any better with a flyout to J-Rod in center to put the M’s one out away. Alejandro Kirk could not extend the game and flew out to Arozarena in shallow left to slam the door on this one. Seattle pitching needed just 100 pitches in this game and retired 23 of the final 24 batters they faced as the Mariners stole Game 1 from the Blue Jays, 3-1.

Notable Performances

Mariners

Blue Jays

• George Springer- 1-4, HR, RBI, R
• Kevin Gausman (Loss)- 5.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO
• Anthony Santander- 1-3

What’s Next

Seattle steals home-field advantage from Toronto and goes up 1-0 in the ALCS. Things get back to normal for the Mariners as they only used three relievers on Sunday night and Dan Wilson will have plenty more available arms in Game 2 on Monday. Both teams announced their starters after the opener and it will be Trey Yesavage taking the ball in Game 2 in his fifth career start. Yesavage dazzled in his first postseason outing in Game 2 with New York, going 5 1/3 hitless and scoreless innings with just one walk and a career-high 11 strikeouts. Logan Gilbert will make his second start and third appearance this postseason. Gilbert rolled in Game 3 with Detroit before pitching two innings in relief in Game 5 on Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 2:03 Pacific Time.

MLB Playoff Scores (Saturday Night)

• Milwaukee Brewers defeat Chicago Cubs 3-1 (Milwaukee wins series 3-2)

MLB Playoff Schedule Monday

• Seattle Mariners @ Toronto Blue Jays (Game 2, 2:03pm)- Logan Gilbert (1-0, 1.13 ERA) vs. Trey Yesavage (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
• Los Angeles Dodgers @ Milwaukee Brewers (Game 1, 5:08pm)- Blake Snell (2-0, 1.38 ERA) vs. TBS

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