Game Seven Glory: Blue Jays Soar Past Mariners to Reach the World Series

by Jake Lax, October 21, 2025

Source: AP Photo

Two of the greatest words in sports: Game Seven. The Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays have been battling through the past six games, each fighting for the American League pennant. Now it all came down to one final showdown, winner takes all. The Blue Jays turned to Shane Bieber, who pitched in the Game 3 win for Toronto. The Mariners went with George Kirby, who looked to redeem himself after surrendering eight earned runs in Game 3.

The Mariners shut out the noise in the first inning as their star center fielder, Julio Rodriguez, got things started with a leadoff double. This was Rodriguez’s first hit since Game 3, going 0-10 in Games 4-6. Following Julio was the MVP candidate, Cal Raleigh, who ended up striking on a full count. Then brought up Josh Naylor, who lined a single into right field, bringing Rodriguez all the way in from second to score, giving the Mariners a 1-0 lead to start the game. A runner’s interference on Josh Naylor ended the inning with a double play being the result of it.

George Springer led off for Toronto with a walk after a full count. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. then moved Springer over to second on a single to left field with 1 out. Following Guerrero Jr., Alejandro Kirk struck out on a full count as the second out of the inning. Centerfielder Daulton Varsho hit a single through the middle to score Springer and tie the game at 1 in the first inning. The top of the second saw the Mariners get back-to-back singles from Randy Arozarena and Eugenio Suarez. A sacrifice bunt moved them to second and third with 1 out; however, Shane Bieber was able to escape the inning. George Kriby was able to get settled in during the bottom half of the second inning, only allowing one baserunner. The big shot of the game up to this point was Julio Rodriguez to lead off the third inning, blasting a solo homerun 423 feet, giving the Mariners a 2-1 lead. Both Starters continued through the 4th inning, each only allowing one hit during the fourth.

Leading off the fifth inning was the “Big Dumper”, Cal Raleigh, who was bound to be a crucial part of Game 7. Raleigh took a changeup off Blue Jays reliver Louis Varland, 381 feet for a solo homerun. This extended Seattle’s lead and kept the momentum for the road team. Bryan Woo had come in for relief for the Mariners, giving them 2 good innings before running into trouble in the bottom of the seventh inning. Woo walked the leadoff batter and was followed by a single to Isiah Kiner-Falefa, giving the Blue Jays 2 runners on with no outs. Toronto decided to have Andres Gimenez lay down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners over to second and third with 1 out. Mariners’ manager Dan Wilson decided to go back to the bullpen here bringing in Eduard Bazardo, to face the leadoff man, George Springer. On the second pitch Springer saw he hit a towering fly ball 381 feet to left center, blowing the stadium up. A three-run home run to give Toronto a 4-3 lead. The stadium was shaking; there wasn’t a fan in the building sitting down. The Blue Jays were 6 outs away from the World Series. Chris Bassitt came in to pitch for the eighth inning for Toronto, and he did his job. Bassitt went three up three down and moved the Jays 3 outs away. After failing to add any insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth, this was it going into the ninth. Toronto brought in Jeff Hoffman to close it out. Hoffman needed just three outs to send the Blue Jays back to their first World Series appearance since 1993, and he did just that. Striking out the side in the bottom of the ninth the Toronto Blue Jays were headed back to the World Series.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was named the ALCS MVP after his great performance throughout the series. Guerrero Jr. hit 3 homeruns and 6 extra base-hits during the series to help Toronto reach the Fall Classic. The Blue Jays will begin the World Series in Toronto on Friday against the reigning champs, the Los Angeles Dodgers, in what should be a very fun series.