Toronto Blue Jays have made history by advancing to the World Series for the first time since 1993, thanks to a dramatic performance by George Springer. In a thrilling Game 7 of the American League Championship Series (ALCS) on Monday night, Springer hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the seventh inning, leading the Blue Jays to a 4-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners.
This victory marks a significant milestone for the Blue Jays, who will now face the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night. The matchup is particularly exciting as it brings the World Series back to Canada for only the third time in history. The defending champion Dodgers secured their spot by sweeping the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series (NLCS).
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who was named the ALCS MVP, expressed his determination, stating, “The job’s not finished. We got four more to go.” Meanwhile, the Mariners experienced heartbreak as they squandered a 3-1 lead in the seventh inning, falling just eight outs short of their first-ever World Series appearance. Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez both hit solo home runs for Seattle, but it was not enough to secure the win.
Raleigh candidly reflected on the team’s disappointment, saying, “I hate to use the word failure, but it’s a failure. What we expected was to get to the World Series and win a World Series.” This loss is particularly painful for Seattle, as they remain the only Major League Baseball team without a pennant. Manager Dan Wilson acknowledged the sting of defeat, calling this a “special team” that deserved better.
The pivotal moment of the game came in the seventh inning when Addison Barger walked to start the rally, followed by an Isiah Kiner-Falefa single. Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo was replaced after No. 9 batter Andrés Giménez advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt. Springer then connected with a pitch from Eduard Bazardo, launching a 381-foot homer to left field that ignited the sellout crowd of 44,770 at Rogers Centre.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider praised Springer’s performance, stating, “There’s probably not another person on planet Earth that I want up other than George Springer and his October magic.” This homer is historic; it’s the first go-ahead homer in Game 7 history when a team trailed by multiple runs in the seventh inning or later. It was also Springer’s 23rd career postseason homer, tying him with Kyle Schwarber for third place on the all-time list.
Toronto became the fourth team in MLB history to lose the first two games of a best-of-seven postseason series at home and then come back to win. The previous teams to achieve this feat were the 1985 Kansas City Royals, 1986 New York Mets, and 1996 New York Yankees—each of whom went on to win the World Series.
Blue Jays chairman Edward Rogers celebrated the victory, stating, “I think it’s an inspiration for 41 million people in Canada, from coast to coast to coast. This is Canada’s team.”
On the mound, Kevin Gausman made a crucial relief appearance, navigating a scoreless seventh inning despite three walks to earn the win. Starter Chris Bassitt pitched effectively, allowing two runs and seven hits over 3 2/3 innings. Jeff Hoffman closed the game with a perfect ninth, striking out all three batters he faced for his second save of the postseason.
The Blue Jays' journey to the World Series is a testament to their resilience, and they now prepare to face the Dodgers, who are seeking their third championship in six years. Toronto’s only World Series appearances resulted in consecutive titles in 1992 and 1993, and they will have the advantage of home-field in the upcoming series due to their 94-win regular season, finishing one win ahead of the Dodgers.
As excitement builds for the World Series, the Blue Jays and their fans are ready to embrace this historic moment for the franchise and for Canadian baseball.
