The Toronto Blue Jays forced a decisive Game 7 in the American League Championship Series after defeating the Seattle Mariners 6-2 on Sunday night. Rookie pitcher Trey Yesavage struck out seven over five and two-thirds innings, while Vladimir Guerrero Jr hit his sixth home run of the postseason.
Toronto will host the ALCS Game 7 on Monday, marking only the second Game 7 in franchise history. The team previously lost to Kansas City in the 1985 ALCS. Seattle, the only major league team without a pennant, will appear in its first postseason Game 7. The winner advances to the World Series against the National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers, set to begin Friday.
The Blue Jays executed three double plays behind Yesavage, including two bases-loaded, inning-ending outs. This made Toronto the first team in postseason history to turn consecutive bases-loaded double plays and only the fourth to complete two in a single playoff game.
Seattle committed a season-high three errors, which Toronto capitalized on. In contrast, the Blue Jays have made just four errors across ten playoff games. Guerrero’s sixth career postseason home run—all hit this year—tied him with José Bautista and Joe Carter for the most in franchise history. Bautista also threw the ceremonial first pitch before the game.
Addison Barger contributed a home run and three RBIs for Toronto. The Blue Jays had lost their previous four elimination games in the postseason, a streak dating back to Game 5 of the 2016 ALCS against Cleveland and including losses to Tampa Bay in 2020, Seattle in 2022, and Minnesota in 2023.
Guerrero’s leadoff homer in the fifth inning extended Toronto’s lead to 5-0 and forced Mariners starter Logan Gilbert from the mound. Gilbert allowed five runs, four earned, on seven hits in four innings.
Yesavage carried a shutout into the sixth, giving up two runs on six hits, five of which were singles. He struck out five batters with his split-finger fastball, which also helped induce both bases-loaded double plays. The 22-year-old threw a season-high 31 splitters, recording 10 strikeouts with the pitch and five more on sliders.
This postseason marked Yesavage’s third major league start, with two wins in three playoff outings. Seattle threatened in the third and fourth innings with bases loaded but was twice denied by double plays, including a 3-6-1 grounder by slugger Cal Raleigh. Raleigh finished 0 for 3 with three strikeouts.
The Mariners finally scored in the sixth. Josh Naylor hit a solo homer, his third of the playoffs, off Yesavage. After Yesavage exited, Louis Varland allowed an RBI single to Eugenio Suárez, giving Seattle two runs in the inning.
Toronto added runs early through Mariners’ errors. Julio Rodríguez’s misplay in center and Suárez’s fielding mistake at third allowed Toronto to score twice in the second inning, with RBI singles from Barger and Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Ernie Clement hit a two-out triple in the third and scored on Barger’s second postseason homer.
George Springer started at designated hitter but went 0 for 4 with a walk. Guerrero was hit by a pitch in the seventh and eventually scored on a throwing error by Raleigh.
Toronto is expected to start right-hander Shane Bieber in Monday’s Game 7. Bieber pitched six strong innings in Game 3, allowing two runs on four hits with eight strikeouts. Seattle plans to start right-hander George Kirby, who allowed eight runs on eight hits, including three homers, over four innings in Game 3.
The stage is set for a thrilling ALCS Game 7 as both teams battle for a chance to reach the World Series.
