Blue Jays head to World Series for first time since 1993: George Springer homer sends Toronto to face Dodgers

Game 7 of the ALCS did not disappoint. In the end, the Toronto Blue Jays prevailed with a 4-3 victory on the strength of a monster home run by George Springer. The Blue Jays will meet the Dodgers in the World Series while the Mariners head home. 

After a lackluster overall performance in Game 6, a 6-2 loss, the Mariners wasted no time in getting things going in Game 7. Julio Rodríguez doubled on the second pitch of the game from Jays' starter Shane Bieber and scored on a one-out Josh Naylor single. 

The Blue Jays answered quickly, though, scoring a run in the bottom of the first on a two-out Daulton Varsho single, plating leadoff man Springer. 

Rodríguez, who was a 30-30 guy in the regular season, homered in the top of the third. The 60-homer catcher, Cal Raleigh, homered in the fifth to provide an insurance run, making it 3-1 Mariners. 

It was still 3-1 heading to the bottom of the seventh. The Jays got a leadoff walk from Addison Barger before a single up the middle from Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Andrés Giménez followed with a sac bunt to move the tying run to second base. Not that it really mattered. Springer hit a no-doubt home run to put the Jays on top. 

Springer is now tied for third all-time in playoff home runs with 23, evening him up with Kyle Schwarber. Only Manny Ramirez (29) and Jose Altuve (27) have more. 

Though Bieber only lasted 3 ⅔ innings, members of the Blue Jays' regular-season rotation figured heavily in this one. Kevin Gausman worked a scoreless inning and so did Chris Bassitt. Jeff Hoffman closed things down with three strikeouts in three hitters and Seranthony Domínguez also added a scoreless inning.

The Blue Jays don't have to travel. They'll host Game 1 of the World Series Friday against the mighty, defending champion Dodgers. It'll mark the Blue Jays' first trip to the World Series since 1993, when they won back-to-back championships in their only two previous trips to the Fall Classic. 

Jays are on the verge of being the third team in the last 20 years to overcome a 2-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series. Others were 2023 D-backs and 2020 Dodgers.

The Blue Jays are one out away ... 

Rivas strikes out. Here comes Dominic Canzone to pinch hit with one out. The Mariners need someone on base.

Here we go. AL title on the line.

Rivas, Robles, Rodríguez, Raleigh for the Mariners. All the Rs. More importantly, the top of the order is up after two hitters, starting with two players who have already hit home runs tonight.

Daulton Varsho and Ernie Clement have both singled to start the eighth.

George Springer, whose status for this series was in doubt just a few days ago after taking a ball off the knee, just launched a go-ahead three-run shot here in the seventh. It's 4-3 Toronto.

The Blue Jays are six defensive outs from their first World Series appearance since 1993.

Feels like Muñoz should be in. This is the real save situation.

After a sac bunt, it'll be runners on second and third with one out for the top of the Blue Jays order. Here comes Mariners fireman Eduard Bazardo.

Addison Barger walks and Isiah Kiner-Falefa singles and the Blue Jays have the tying run at first base with no outs in the seventh.

Gausman faced five batters that inning and walked three. Walk, GIDP, intentional walk (Raleigh), walk, inning-ending ground out.

Mariners fail to cash in against Gausman. Heading to the bottom of the seventh. It's 3-1 Seattle.

Kevin Gausman in for Toronto. Been a while since his last relief appearance, but he did it plenty earlier in his career.

28 pitches for Woo. Speier for Barger/Kiner-Falefa/Giménez next inning? Andrés Muñoz for the top of the lineup after that? Then if Brash or Bazardo has to finish it off, so be it.

Nine outs from the franchise's first World Series appearance.

Blue Jays All-Star catcher Alejandro Kirk singles. I feel compelled to point out the broadcast keeps saying he's the slowest player in the league and while he's in the running, he's 10th slowest by Statcast's sprint speed measurement.

Reminder: Bryan Woo had a 6.36 ERA in three years at Cal Poly. Now he's an MLB All-Star.

Kevin Gausman is warming up for Toronto.

Guerrero just chased a slider way out of the zone. Third strikeout of the postseason. He has six home runs.

Double play ends the inning and also means Vlad Jr. will lead off next inning and not hit with men on base.

We've seen some really good and fun unassisted double plays these playoffs. Thank you, shift rules.

And Crawford creates a nifty DP to end the frame. eattle leads 3-1 through five here in Game 7.

Naturally Woo bounces back by making quick work of Springer. Can't predict ball.

Walking the No. 9 hitter to lead off an inning is no way to go through a Game 7.

Good news for his cat.

Of note: Mariners closer Andrés Muñoz has pitched once in the last week, and that one appearance was 11 pitches. I would think he's good for two innings tonight, if needed.

Bryan Woo is in the game for the Mariners.

The top of the Mariners lineup has led the way for them tonight. Raleigh, one of the top two candidates for the AL MVP Award, just launched a solo home run here in the fifth inning to give Seattle a 3-1 advantage.

Take a look:

The Mariners are drawing ever closer to securing their first ever trip to the World Series.

SerTony Domínguez is warming up for the Blue Jays. Using the high-leverage guys this early in the game leads me to believe Kevin Gausman will pitch at some point tonight.