The Seattle Mariners won an absolute thriller against the Tigers in Game 5 to send them to their first American League Championship Series since 2001. The Toronto Blue Jays were able to beat the New York Yankees in four games and advance to the ALCS for the first time since 2016. With their win tonight, the Mariners inched closer to their first-ever World Series appearance.
Mariners Pitching Was Lights Out
Bryce Miller was fantastic tonight, going six strong innings, allowing just one run on the first pitch he threw in the game to George Springer. He was able to settle down, allowing one hit and taking the life out of Rogers Center. Cal Raleigh brought all of the momentum with a solo home run with two outs in the 6th inning. Kevin Gausman was cruising, and Raleigh jumped on a splitter and crushed it to right field. Following his homer, Julio Rodriguez worked a walk and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Jorge Polanco drove in Rodriguez on an RBI single to left field, giving Seattle the lead.
Seattle was able to get a huge insurance run in the eighth inning, from Polanco again! He bounced a ground ball through the right side of the infield, driving in Randy Arozarena, who stole second and third earlier in the inning. The Mariners’ insurance run proved to be the dagger, as the bullpen was able to secure the final six outs.
Their bullpen was extremely efficient tonight, which is great because of how many guys were used in their game five victory over the Detroit Tigers that went fifteen innings.
Blue Jays Fall Flat Late
After George Springer’s home run in the first, the Blue Jays’ lineup went completely silent. Their pitching held the Mariners down, giving up just three runs, and kept the game in reach. Unfortunately, when you don’t record a hit after the second inning, you’re not going to win games. Their at-bats in the later innings were pathetic, as each bullpen arm for the Mariners didn’t throw more than eight pitches.
For a team that would work very long at bats and looked patient in the Divisional Series, they looked confused tonight. They were swinging at pitches way out of the zone, and their aggressive approach ended up helping the Mariners more than it did themselves. The Mariners only won by two runs, but Toronto didn’t put up a fight in this game. They looked lifeless tonight and quickly sucked the energy out of the crowd. The Blue Jays will turn to Trey Yesavage in Game 2, as they look to even the series before heading to Seattle.
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