1 of 5 | Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Trey Yesavage throws in the third inning against the Seattle Mariners during Game 6 of the American League Championship Series on Sunday at Rogers Centre in Toronto. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Trey Yesavage carried a shutout into the sixth inning, while two homers helped the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Seattle Mariners and force Game 7 in the ALCS.
Yesavage allowed six hits and two runs over 5 2/3 innings in the 6-2 triumph Sunday in Toronto. Right fielder Addison Barger went 2 for 3 with a home run and three RBIs. First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also homered for the Blue Jays.
“This was the most electric, energized crowd I have ever played in front of before,” Yesavage told reporters. “And the team rallied behind the fans. They were huge motivation for us.”
The Blue Jays will host the Mariners in Game 7 on Monday in Toronto. The winner will face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series, with Game 1 set for Friday.
“You’ve gotta enjoy it,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “This is what we signed up for. Whenever you can play for Game 7 to go to the World Series, it sounds cool to say it, but this is why we sacrifice everything.”
Barger gave the Blue Jays their initial Game 6 advantage with an RBI single in the bottom of the second inning. Second baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa smacked another RBI single in the next exchange for a 2-0 edge.
Barger returned to the plate for a 403-foot, two-run homer in the third. Guerrero led off the bottom of the fifth with a 384-foot solo blast.
Yesavage retired the first six hitters he faced in order. He escaped bases-loaded jams in the third and fourth innings before the Mariners finally broke through in the sixth.
First baseman Josh Naylor hit a 389-foot solo homer in the top of the inning for the Mariners’ first run. Third baseman Eugenio Suarez ripped a line drive single down the first base line two at-bats later to plate the Mariners’ final score.
The Blue Jays scored the last run of the night off a wild pitch from Mariners reliever Matt Brash in the bottom of the seventh.
Guerrero went 2 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Third baseman Ernie Clement and outfielder Nathan Lukes joined Guerrero and Barger with two hits apiece in the victory. Clement recorded a double and a triple and drew a walk.
Julio Rodriguez, Cal Raleigh and Jorge Polanco — the first three hitters in the Mariners’ batting order — went a combined 0 for 11 in Game 6.
First pitch for the Blue Jays-Mariners Game 7 finale is set for 8:08 p.m. EDT Monday at Rogers Centre. Shane Bieber will take the mound for the Blue Jays, while fellow right-handed pitcher George Kirby will start for the Mariners.
