1 of 5 | Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer (C) celebrates after hitting a three-run home run in the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners during Game 7 of the American League Championship Series on Monday at Rogers Centre in Toronto. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
George Springer sent a sinker just over the left field wall to lead the Toronto Blue Jays past the Seattle Mariners and to their first World Series in 32 years.
Springer smacked the 1-0 pitch for a 381-foot, three-run blast in the seventh inning of the 4-3 Game 7 triumph Monday in Toronto. The Blue Jays trailed 3-1 through six innings before mounting their comeback to win the ALCS and clinch their first title series ticket since 1993.
“I’m so happy for our team, our fans, our city, our country,” Springer said on the Fox Sports broadcast. “I’m so happy right now.”
Springer and the Blue Jays will meet the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday in Toronto. The Blue Jays beat the Philadelphia Phillies for their second title in the 1993 World Series. They beat the Atlanta Braves in the 1992 World Series for their first title.
The Dodgers will attempt to win their ninth title and third crown in six years.
“The job is not finished,” said first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who hit .385 with three home runs en route to ALCS MVP honors. “We are going to go to the World Series and try to win it all.
“We prayed for this. All of the country is behind us. We will try to bring the World Series back to Toronto.”
First baseman Josh Naylor gave the Mariners an initial lead with an RBI single in the top of the first inning of Game 7. Center fielder Daulton Varsho tied the score with his own RBI single in the bottom of the inning, but the Blue Jays didn’t score another run over the next five innings.
The Mariners jumped ahead again on a 423-foot solo homer from center fielder Julio Rodriguez in the third. They pushed their lead to two runs with a 381-foot homer from catcher Cal Raleigh in the fifth.
Mariners starter George Kirby allowed just four hits and one run over the first four innings. Relief pitcher Bryan Woo replaced Kirby to start the bottom of the fifth. Woo escaped the fifth and sixth innings unscathed, but walked left fielder Addison Barger and allowed a single to second baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa to start the seventh. Shortstop Andres Gimenez pushed both runners over with a sacrifice bunt in Woo’s final exchange of the night.
Relief pitcher Eduard Bazardo missed the strike zone with a sinker on his first pitch to Springer to start the next at-bat. He then left a 96-mph sinker over the inside of the plate, allowing Springer to send it 99.1 mph the other way, narrowly clearing the outfield fence and completing a Blue Jays comeback.
Blue Jays relief pitchers Chris Bassitt and Jeff Hoffman proceeded to retire the final six Mariners hitters in order to seal the Game 7 victory. Hoffman ended the game with three consecutive strikeouts.
Springer went 1 for 3 with three RBIs, two runs scored, a walk and a strikeout. Varsho went 2 for 4 with an RBI. Rodriguez went 2 for 5 with an RBI and two runs scored in the loss.
The Blue Jays will host the Dodgers in Game 1 of the World Series at 8 p.m. EDT Friday in Toronto. Game 2 will be Saturday in Toronto. The series will shift to Los Angeles on Monday for Game 3.
