On Friday night, the Seattle Mariners witnessed a moment that could be deemed the most significant swing of the bat in the franchise's 30-year history. Eugenio Suárez stepped up to the plate during the bottom of the eighth inning, with the score tied at two. In a thrilling turn of events, he delivered only the second grand slam in the team’s postseason history, securing a 6-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays and bringing the Mariners closer to the World Series than they have ever been.
After the game, an emotional Suárez shared his feelings during a postgame press conference, accompanied by his two daughters. “I’ve been waiting for games like this my whole career,” he expressed. “Today I had it. Today I had it in front of our crowd, in front of my family – my two daughters, my wife. The moment is very special right now.” His heartfelt words encapsulate the significance of this victory for both him and the entire Mariners organization.
Historically, the Mariners have faced challenges in their quest for the World Series title. After defeating the New York Yankees in the 1995 American League Division Series (ALDS) – a win many believe saved baseball in Seattle – they came within two wins of reaching the World Series during the Championship Series, only to fall short against Cleveland. In 2001, they again found themselves just two victories away from the coveted title, but were unable to surpass the Yankees. Now, with this latest win, the Mariners need just one more victory to break the record of being the only active Major League Baseball franchise never to have reached the Fall Classic.
Following the grand slam, Mariners manager Dan Wilson remarked, “After Geno’s grand slam, I’m not sure I’ve heard that building any louder than that.” He noted the emotional atmosphere in the stadium, as longtime fans reflected on how remarkable it was to experience such a charged moment. “Talking to a lot of people who have been around here since the 2001 days, they don’t remember a time that it was this loud before,” he added.
The series had taken a turn when the Blue Jays tied it with two convincing wins in Seattle during Games 3 and 4. However, Suárez ignited the Mariners with a solo home run to left field in the second inning. A stunning double play by Cal Raleigh helped Seattle escape a bases-loaded jam in the fourth. Yet, the Blue Jays responded after Mariners starter Bryce Miller was unexpectedly removed from the game in the fifth. A crucial two-out double from George Springer brought home Addison Barger, leveling the score, while an ensuing single from Ernie Clement gave the Blue Jays an edge in the sixth inning.
As the Mariners entered the eighth inning, they faced the daunting prospect of needing to win both upcoming games in Toronto to secure the series. However, a spark ignited from a familiar source: Raleigh tied the game with a floated fly ball that hung in the air for an astonishing 6.7 seconds before barely clearing the left field wall. Wilson humorously noted, “It felt like Cal’s ball was in the air for about an hour.” This home run marked Raleigh's fourth of the postseason and his 64th home run overall during the season, tying him with Aaron Judge for the most home runs in a single year in the American League.
Having waited 24 years for such a dramatic postseason home run, Seattle fans were treated to another unforgettable moment when Suárez’s grand slam put the Mariners in an insurmountable lead. With this victory, the Mariners now lead the series 3-2, heading back on the road for Game 6, set to take place in Toronto on Sunday night. The excitement continues as Seattle inches closer to making history in their pursuit of the World Series.
