đź”— Share this article Cal Raleigh Homers as Mariners Stifle Blue Jays in Long-Awaited Comeback to ALCS Cal Raleigh blasted a home run, Jorge Polanco delivered the decisive run with a sixth-inning single, and the Mariners defeated the Blue Jays 3-1 Sunday night as they made their return to the ALCS for the initial occasion in two dozen years. Defensive Mastery on Display George Springer homered on the opening delivery from Miller, who then escaped a two-on jam in a 27-delivery first inning. Anthony Santander singled in the second inning for Toronto’s only other hit, and Seattle pitchers retired 23 of the Blue Jays’ final 24 batters. The pitching quartet combined to throw just 100 pitches less than 48 hours after the Seattle team needed 209 throws to outlast Detroit over 15 innings. Key Batting Moments Raleigh, who led the major leagues with 60 homers, tied the score in the sixth inning with his ninth homer in 14 games at Rogers Centre. Kevin Gausman had previously kept batters hitless on splitters in the postseason before the homer by the catcher. Polanco hit a go-ahead single later in the inning and added an run-scoring single in the eighth. “We are a resilient squad, as you know, from top to bottom,” Raleigh stated. “Our pitchers performed today, extremely impressive. They were outstanding. Particularly on short rest and the high pitch count the other day.” AL West champion Seattle traveled to AL East winner Toronto on Saturday after a 3-2 win at home over the Tigers to win the Division Series in the most extended decisive contest in Major League Baseball history. Historic Accomplishments Seattle, the only MLB team to not have hosted a Fall Classic game, held Toronto to two hits after the Toronto squad had 50 hits and 34 runs in their four-game Division Series against the New York Yankees. Miller, who earned the win, struck out three and walked three in six frames, throwing 72 pitches. The bullpen trio each had 1-2-3 innings, with Muñoz getting the save. “This will be a fiercely contested series, for sure,” Toronto manager John Schneider commented. “These guys will be ready for it.” Springer’s 21st postseason home run ended a tie with the Yankees’ Derek Jeter, placing him alone in fifth position on the career list. Raleigh’s homer was his fourth in 15 appearances against Gausman, who took the loss. Polanco, the hero of Friday's game, singled against Brendon Little to drive in Julio RodrĂguez, who was walked by Gausman. Polanco later added another run-scoring hit against DomĂnguez. Notable Game Highlights Eugenio Suárez hit a double off the top of the right-field wall in the seventh against Louis Varland. The 395-foot hit would have been a homer in 15 of 30 big league ballparks, Seattle’s field included. Blue Jays outfielder Nathan Lukes exited in the fourth. Lukes sustained a right knee bruise when he fouled a pitch off it in the first inning.