SCORE OF THE GAME, SCORE OF THE ALCS

Both were 4-3

32 YEARS OF WAITING ENDS FOR TORONTO

It was a busy 1st inning last night, and then things got very normal.

Until they didn’t.

It really looked like the Mariners’ night when Julio Rodríguez doubled to lead off the game, and Josh Naylor singled to drive him in to give Seattle a quick lead in the top of the 1st. In regular and postseason play, when the Mariners scored first, they were 66-32. Only the Yankees scored first more often than Seattle (they scored first in 100 games).

The top of the 1st had an odd ending with Jorge Polanco hitting into a unique double play, ruled after Josh Naylor jumped and twisted in mid-air, approaching second base, was struck by a throw from Blue Jays third baseman Ernie Clement. The umps met as a group and decided that while the gymnastics were impressive, it was a double play

But in the bottom of the 1st, the Blue Jays used a walk to George Springer, a single by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and then a single by Daulton Varsho to tie the score.

Then the Mariners’ stars took over. In the 3rd, Rodríguez hit a solo homer, and then in the 5th, Cal Raleigh hit a solo homer. They stepped up. So did their starter, George Kirby, who threw four innings, allowing four hits and just one run.

Holding a 3-1 lead, the Mariners seemed to have lulled the Blue Jays and their fans to sleep.

Until they didn’t.

But then, in the bottom of the 7th, after Bryan Woo walked Addison Barger, the leadoff batter. Isiah Kiner-Falefa then singled, and an Andrés Giménez sac bunt put the runners on second and third. Woo was correctly pulled after 2.1 IP. Eduard Bazardo incorrectly came into the game. I’m calling out Dan Wilson on this because Sunday night, the Jays were winning 5-0 in the bottom of the 5th, and he brought in Bazardo, who threw two innings and 15 pitches. Last night was his fourth game in this ALCS. And not coming in to pitch last night was their closer, and arguably their best reliever, Andrés Muñoz, who had not pitched since Friday. Obviously, Muñoz was being held for a two-inning save. But this is when the game was on the line.

Then this happened:

Springer, who was not gimping around the basepaths, a la Kirk Gibson, hit the first-ever go-ahead homer while trailing by multiple runs in the 7th inning or later of a Game 7.

It was Toronto’s biggest hit since Joe Carter’s on October 23, 1993.

Chris Bassitt, normally a starter, came in and pitched a scoreless top of the 8th for Toronto. Muñoz worked out of a jam and pitched a scoreless 8th for Seattle, but it was TLTL (Too Little, Too Late). In the top of the 9th, the Blue Jays closer, Jeff Hoffman, struck out the side. Sarah Langs shared that only one other pitcher faced three batters and struck out all three in the final inning of a Game 7. And that would be Calvin Schiraldi, when he had an 8-1 lead in the 1986 ALCS. He didn’t do that in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, and Bill Buckner took the blame.

And the Blue Jays are now in the World Series for the first time since they won back-to-back championships in 1992-1993.

The Blue Jays have stars and are solid up and down the lineup. Last night, Toronto had 10 hits. Daulton Varsho had two hits; every other Jay who came to the plate had one hit. Nine of the hits were singles. Springer had their only XBH.

The Dodgers are looking to become MLB’s first back-to-back champions in 25 years. The Blue Jays haven’t won since Joe Carter’s walkoff Series-winning homer in 1993.

I’m really hoping for a fun World Series.

48 YEARS OF WAITING FOR SEATTLE GOES ON AND ON

Three wins and 19 outs. Eight outs short. This is the closest the Mariners have ever come to winning the American League pennant and going on to the World Series. No matter what the weather is, Mariners fans will have days and weeks of cloudy, drizzly feelings as they think about how close their team came this season. No pennant, just penance for sins unknown.

SPRINGER’S DINGERS

George Springer's career home runs. Springer is now tied with Kyle Schwarber for third in MLB career postseason homers.

Playoff totals include the Wild Card, LDS, LCS, and World Series.

OH, CANADA

Can you name the one member of the Blue Jays 40-man roster born in Canada?

The answer is below.

“It’s an inspiration for 41 million people in Canada from coast to coast to coast. This team has the depth and the character and the vision, and we’re going all the way.” - Ed Rogers, Rogers Communications executive chair and Blue Jays chair.