10/13/25

(Toronto, ON) Already a successful trip to Toronto, the Seattle Mariners entered game 2 with the Blue Jays looking to snag a 2-0 series lead in the ALCS. With a bullpen that was a little more rested, the M’s would still look to get some good innings from their Opening Day starter in Logan Gilbert who was still pitching on short rest after going two innings in the 15-inning marathon game on Friday. Toronto would roll out their rookie phenom in Trey Yasavage who shined in his postseason debut against New York in the ALDS when he didn’t allow a hit in 5 1/3 innings.

Mariners 10, Blue Jays 3 (Game 2, Seattle Leads Series 2-0)

Umpiring was a topic early on in this game and stole the spotlight early. Randy Arozarena took what he and everyone else thought was a called strike three, but it was ruled a ball and he ended up walking to begin the game. Cal Raleigh then worked a walk as well to put two on for Julio Rodríguez against Trey Yasavage. J-Rod fell behind 0-2 before taking a splitter in the dirt. The next one hung in the middle of the plate and Julio crushed it down the left field line, fair for a three-run blast. It was J-Rod’s second home run of the postseason and gave Seattle a 3-0 lead.

Logan Gilbert was a bit shaky early on in this one. George Springer was once again a spark at the top of the order with his third double of the playoffs. Nathan Lukes was in the lineup after leaving game 1 after fouling a ball off his knee. Lukes looked fine as he sent a grounder to Josh Naylor at first. Naylor would look for a quick flip to Gilbert but it would get away, allowing Lukes to move to second and Springer to score to make it 3-1. Vladimir Guerrero moved the runner to third with a groundout, but Gilbert got Addison Barger on strikes for the second out. However, Alejandro Kirk then got the Jays a run closer with a single to center to make it 3-2 early.

Trey Yasavage had a great bounceback inning with a 1-2-3 2nd but Logan Gilbert wasn’t as fortunate. Ernie Clement singled to begin the inning and moved to second on a groundout by Davis Schneider. Andrés Giménez then moved the tying run to third on a groundout to Josh Naylor for the second out. After George Springer walked, Nathan Lukes singled to right to tie the game up at 3-3 while Springer moved to third. Fortunately, Seattle kept the game even after Vladdy grounded out to prevent the Jays from completely seizing momentum.

Seattle left runners on the corners in the 3rd thanks to a diving catch by Daulton Varsho in center. Gilbert spun a 1-2-3 3rd before Eduard Bazardo came on and did the same in the 4th. In the top of the 5th, Randy Arozarena reached on an infield single and moved to second on a throwing error that was weirdly challenged by John Schneider but the call stood. Toronto intentionally walked Cal Raleigh before going to their bullpen and bringing in Louis Varland. The righty wasted no time in striking out J-Rod but didn’t find similar success against Jorge Polanco. Seattle’s playoff hero drove a line drive out to center that just had enough to get over the wall for a three-run shot. It was his third of the postseason and he became the first player in MLB history to have a go-ahead hit in the 5th inning or later in three consecutive playoff games. Seattle was back up by three just like that, taking a 6-3 lead.

Defense helped Bazardo hang a zero in the bottom of the 5th before Seattle got some insurance in the 6th. Mitch Garver welcomed Mason Fluharty to the game with a triple to center to begin the inning and giving him his second triple since September. He remained there after Victor Robles grounded out and Dan Wilson decided to have Leo Rivas run for Garver at third. J.P. Crawford flipped a base hit to left center for a base hit to bring home Rivas and make it 7-3.

Carlos Vargas continued to dominate for the bullpen with a 1-2-3 bottom of the 6th and then things would get out of hand. A Jorge Polanco singled in the top of the 7th and Josh Naylor celebrated his homecoming in a big way. The Canadian who grew up just 17 miles from the Rogers Centre skied one out to right field that stayed fair and got out for a two-run shot and his first postseason home run as a Mariner. Toronto would then walk the bases loaded before J.P. Crawford added another RBI with a sacrifice fly to put the M’s in double digits with a 10-3 lead.

Emerson Hancock came on in the 8th but struggled finding the zone, walking Vladdy before falling behind Addison Barger 3-0. After a visit from Cal Raleigh, Hancock got Barger to fly out before he walked Alejandro Kirk. The young righty escaped the jam with a fly out and line out to end the 8th. He would also stay on for the 9th but once again walked the leadoff man in Davis Schneider. That got Andrés Muñoz to start warming up but Hancock would get the first out of the 9th by striking out Andrés Giménez. A grounder to third off the bat of George Springer turned into a 5-4-3 double play and Hancock would get the final six outs. It was a dominant showing by the Mariners bullpen again as they took game 2 by a final of 10-3 to send the series to Seattle with a 2-0 advantage for the M’s.

Notable Performances

Mariners

Blue Jays

• Nathan Lukes- 3-4, RBI, R
• Alejandro Kirk- 1-3, RBI, BB
• Trey Yasavage (Loss)- 4 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO

What’s Next

It is getting late early in the ALCS as the series moves to Seattle with the Mariners leading the Toronto Blue Jays 2-0. It is the first time in franchise history that the M’s have held a two-game lead in the ALCS but this is where they have been stuck before. Seattle has never won three games in an ALCS and will have to get over that hump but will have the opportunity to do that at home in T-Mobile Park. Game 3 takes place on Wednesday at 5:08pm for the first ALCS game in Seattle since October 18th, 2001. Toronto will use their big deadline acquisition in Shane Bieber (4-2, 3.57 ERA) in what feels like a must-win. Bieber returned from Tommy John surgery in August and pitched alright before not making it out of the 3rd in his playoff start against New York. Seattle will throw George Kirby (10-8, 4.21 ERA) in his third start of the postseason. Kirby went five innings in each of the first two starts, allowing nine hits and three runs with one walk and 14 strikeouts.

MLB Playoff Scores (Monday Night)

• Seattle Mariners defeat Toronto Blue Jays 10-3 (Seattle leads series 2-0)
• Los Angeles Dodgers defeat Milwaukee Brewers 2-1 (Los Angeles leads series 1-0)

MLB Playoff Schedule Tuesday

• Los Angeles Dodgers @ Milwaukee Brewers (Game 2, 5:08pm)- Yoshinobu Yamamoto (1-1, 2.53 ERA) vs. Freddy Peralta (1-1, 4.66 ERA)

MLB Playoff Schedule Wednesday

• Toronto Blue Jays @ Seattle Mariners (Game 3, 5:08pm)- Shane Bieber (0-0, 6.75 ERA) vs. George Kirby (0-0, 2.70 ERA)

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