đź”— Share this article Raleigh Hits Home Run as Mariners Overpower Blue Jays in Much-Anticipated Return to AL Championship Series Cal Raleigh homered, Jorge Polanco drove in the winning run with a sixth frame single, and the Mariners defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 on Sunday evening as they returned to the ALCS for the first time in two dozen years. Pitching Dominance on Display George Springer launched a homer on the first pitch from Bryce Miller, who then escaped a bases-threatening situation in a 27-delivery opening frame. Anthony Santander singled in the second inning for the Blue Jays' sole additional hit, and Mariners pitchers set down 23 of the Blue Jays’ final 24 batters. Miller, Gabe Speier, Matt Brash and AndrĂ©s Muñoz joined forces to throw just 100 deliveries under two days after the Seattle team needed 209 throws to outlast the Tigers over 15 innings. Key Batting Plays Raleigh, who led the major leagues with 60 homers, evened the game in the sixth inning with his ninth home run in 14 appearances at the Toronto ballpark. Kevin Gausman had held batters to 0 for 16 on splitters in the postseason before the home run by the catcher. Polanco hit a go-ahead single subsequently in the frame and contributed an run-scoring single in the eighth inning. “We are a resilient squad, you know, one through nine,” Raleigh stated. “Our pitchers performed today, extremely impressive. They did awesome. Especially short rest and the high pitch count the other day.” AL West champion Seattle journeyed to AL East winner Toronto on Saturday after a 3-2 home victory over the Tigers to win the Division Series in the most extended decisive contest in Major League Baseball history. Record Accomplishments The Mariners, the only MLB team to never host a Fall Classic game, limited Toronto to just two hits after the Toronto squad had 50 hits and 34 runs in their four-game playoff series against the Yankees. Miller, who earned the win, struck out three and walked three in six innings, throwing 72 pitches. The bullpen trio each had 1-2-3 innings, with Muñoz getting the save. “This is going to be a hard-fought series, man,” Toronto manager John Schneider said. “Our team will be prepared for it.” Springer's 21st playoff homer ended a tie with the Yankees’ Derek Jeter, placing him alone in fifth position on the career list. Raleigh's home run was his fourth in 15 at-bats against Kevin Gausman, who suffered the defeat. Polanco, who had the game-ending single Friday, hit a single off Brendon Little to bring home RodrĂguez, who was issued a walk by Gausman. Polanco added another RBI single against Seranthony DomĂnguez. Memorable Game Moments Eugenio Suárez doubled off the top of the right-field wall in the seventh against Varland. The 395-foot drive would have been a home run in 15 of 30 big league ballparks, including Seattle. Toronto outfielder Nathan Lukes left in the fourth inning. Lukes bruised his right knee when he fouled a ball into his knee in the opening frame.