Blue Jays Force Game 7 with Rookie Heroics and Mariners' Misfortune

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TORONTO, ON — The American League Championship Series is headed for a winner-take-all Game 7. In a do-or-die Game 6, the Toronto Blue Jays staved off elimination with a decisive 6-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Sunday night, pushing the hard-fought series to the limit.

The evening was defined by a massive early offensive burst from Toronto and an uncharacteristic display of sloppy defense by the Mariners, who missed their chance to clinch their first World Series berth in franchise history.

The Rookie Rises to the Occasion

The hero for the Blue Jays was 22-year-old rookie starter Trey Yesavage. In just his sixth career Major League start (and third of the postseason), Yesavage delivered a stellar performance, keeping a powerful Mariners lineup off balance. He took a shutout into the sixth inning and finished with seven strikeouts over $5 \frac{2}{3}$ innings, allowing only two earned runs.

Yesavage’s greatest strength, however, was his ability to induce ground balls in high-pressure spots. The Blue Jays’ defense turned three consecutive inning-ending double plays, twice escaping bases-loaded jams in the third and fourth innings—a historic feat in a postseason game.

Mariners See Double, Commit Errors

The Mariners’ uncharacteristic errors and inability to hit in the clutch proved to be the difference. They entered the game with a chance to make franchise history, but instead, they compounded their struggles with mistakes:

Three Errors: Seattle committed a season-high three errors, which directly contributed to the Blue Jays scoring two unearned runs in the second inning. Rookie Julio Rodríguez bobbled a leadoff single in the second, and Eugenio Suárez committed an error at third base, setting the stage for the first two Toronto runs.
Double-Play Trouble: The Mariners grounded into three double plays, all of which ended critical scoring threats and stifled any chance of a comeback against Yesavage. The double-play off the bat of Cal Raleigh in the third inning, which ended a bases-loaded threat, was a huge momentum swing.
Final Blow: A wild pitch and an errant throw by Cal Raleigh in the seventh inning allowed Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to score, giving the Blue Jays crucial insurance runs and capping a frustrating night for Seattle’s defense.

Guerrero and Barger Lead the Offense

Toronto’s offense jumped on Mariners starter Logan Gilbert early and never looked back. Addison Barger was the catalyst, hitting an RBI single in the second inning before crushing a two-run home run in the third to make the score 4-0.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. added an exclamation point with a towering solo home run in the fifth inning—his sixth of the postseason—to give the Blue Jays a 5-0 lead and force Gilbert from the game. Guerrero later scored the final run on Raleigh’s error, capping a strong all-around game.

The 6-2 victory means the ALCS is going the distance. The winner-take-all Game 7 is scheduled for Monday night in Toronto, with the winner advancing to the World Series to face the Los Angeles Dodgers. Veteran Shane Bieber is expected to pitch for the Blue Jays in the decisive game.