The Seattle Mariners defeated the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-2, in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series on Friday night thanks to two huge eighth-inning swings by Eugenio Suárez and Cal Raleigh. Suárez hit a game-deciding grand slam after Raleigh hit a game-tying solo homer in the eighth, and the Game 5 win puts the M's one win away from their first ever World Series appearance.
Game 5's result also means that a home team has won a game for the first time this series. The Blue Jays lost both in Toronto and then won both in Seattle before this Mariners win.
Here's what you need to know about Game 5.
Mariners explode in 8th
It was 2-1 Blue Jays heading to the bottom of the eighth inning. The Mariners were only six outs away from losing all three games at home. Big Cal Raleigh dug in and may have just saved the season for his Mariners with an absolute moonshot to left field:
Then Jorge Polanco drew a walk. Then Josh Naylor drew a walk. Then Randy Arozarena got hit by a pitch. And Eugenio Suárez hit a grand slam against Seranthony Dominguez.
It was Suárez's second homer of the game, and, just like that, it was 6-2 Mariners. What an incredible inning for the Mariners. To this point, that is now the biggest inning in Mariners history. Remember, they are the only franchise in baseball that hasn't been to a World Series.
Blue Jays got on the board after some tough luck
The Mariners had a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning when the Blue Jays put together a major threat. They had the bases loaded with no outs. The Mariners elected to leave starter Bryce Miller in the game. He was able to get Daulton Varsho on a swinging strikeout before Ernie Clement hit a ball about one foot in front of home plate. It was an easy double play for Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who needed only to be stepping on home plate while he picked up the ball and then threw it to first.
The Blue Jays were not going away, though. Addison Barger led off the fifth with a single. Mariners manager Dan Wilson pulled Miller. Reliever Matt Brash got two outs, but then George Springer doubled to tie the game. In the top of the sixth, Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk had a leadoff double. Then, with one out, Clement singled Kirk home and this is important: Kirk is one of the slowest runners in baseball. Per Statcast, there are only eight players slower and he's within very close range of being the slowest. A decent throw from Dominic Canzone would've retired Kirk at home. Instead, Canzone's throw was well up the third-base line, to the point that Raleigh couldn't get to the ball and still tag Kirk.
It was 2-1 Blue Jays at the time. That huge Mariners' rally in the eighth really let Canzone off the hook.
Springer exited after HBP
Blue Jays leadoff man George Springer was one of the best hitters in baseball this season, having a career renaissance at age 35. He's had several big moments this postseason, too, including a game-tying RBI double in this game. In the top of the seventh, Springer was hit with a pitch in the right knee. It made a loud thud. Springer took a few minutes to try and walk it off and stay in the game, but he was limping pretty badly and the Blue Jays ended up pinch running for him with Joey Loperfido.
There's a day off Saturday, but Game 6 comes on Sunday. If Springer is unable to play, that's a big blow to the Blue Jays.
Next up: Game 6 on Sunday
The series will conclude in Rogers Centre, whether it's after a Mariners Game 6 win to clinch the series or after a potential Game 7 on Monday. The starting pitchers for Game 6 are likely Logan Gilbert of the Mariners against Jays rookie Trey Yesavage. It would be a rematch of Game 2.
