Mariners Silence Blue Jays’ Bats to Snatch Game One in AL Championship Opener
Toronto suckers were left stupefied on Sunday night as the Seattle Mariners stormed into Rogers Centre and stunned the Blue Jays with a 3 – 1 palm in the opening clash of the American League Championship Series.
Seattle’s right-hander Bryce Miller, pitching on short rest for the first time in his youthful career, defied fatigue and anticipation.
He looked intrepid. Indeed, after surrendering a first-pitch home run to George Springer, he settled into a meter that silenced the Toronto batons fully.
“Can’t say enough about Bryce Miller on short rest and giving us six strong innings,” said catcher Cal Raleigh. “Pitchers came out today and really impressed us, awesome, especially after short rest.”
And impressed they did. Miller, backed by three implacable relievers, retired 23 of the final 24 batters faced. It was a masterclass in control and countenance.
Jorge with RISP might be the greatest hitter on the planet
— SleeperMariners (@SleeperMariners) October 13, 2025
Seattle’s offence, though modest, was ruthlessly effective. Cal Raleigh crushed a single shot to right in the sixth, equalising the score and shifting the instigation exactly toward the callers.
Jorge Polanco followed up with two clutch RBI mates, icing the Mariners seized a pivotal 1 – 0 series lead.
“We got some rest. We just kept our minds ready, tried to recover as much as we could,” Polanco said. “It’s very important for us to come here and get a win or two.”
For Toronto, it was a bitter night. The Blue Jays, boasting the American League’s best home record this season (54–27), started brightly with Springer’s opening blast.
Yet after that moment, their bats vanished. No hits beyond the second inning, a stunning drop for a side so dominant at home.
Miller’s poise was remarkable. He became the first MLB pitcher in six years to last six innings on short rest in a postseason start. His dominance forced Toronto’s star hitters into soft contact and empty swings.
“I just told him to go out there and trust his stuff and let it play,” Raleigh said of his early chat with Miller on the mound.
Seattle Mariners bullpen, Gabe Speier, Matt Brash, and Andres Muñoz, slammed the door shut, combining for three innings of near-perfection.
For a franchise still chasing its first-ever World Series appearance, Seattle’s performance was a statement. The Mariners haven’t reached this stage since 2001, while the Jays, last titleholders in 1993, haven’t been this far since 2016.
“It’s going to be tough,” Raleigh added. “We’ve just got to keep doing it.”
Toronto starter Kevin Gausman held strong for the most part of his spin but blinked when it signified. After Raleigh’s game-tying blast, Julio Rodríguez walked and later crossed home on Polanco’s single.
Another Polanco RBI in the eighth, set up by Randy Arozarena’s bold base running, sealed the deal.
Seattle, seeking its first World Series berth in franchise history, hadn’t reached the ALCS since 2001.
Toronto, meanwhile, was returning to this stage for the first time since 2016. Their dramatic comeback to the postseason scene is chronicled in this article on how the Blue Jays returned to the ALCS after a nine-year wait.
As Game Two looms on Monday night in Canada, the Mariners will look to strain their grip.
The Blue Jays, meanwhile, have a wake-up call to answer. Their postseason hopes now depend on rediscovering the spark that made them so dangerous all-time.
