Jays beat Mariners 4-3, advance to World Series

George Springer hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh inning to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a 4-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series on Monday. 

TORONTO – George Springer hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh inning to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a 4-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series on Monday.

The victory gave the Blue Jays their first berth in the World Series since 1993. Toronto will host the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 on Friday.

With Addison Barger and Isiah Kiner-Falefa aboard, Springer turned on an Eduard Bazardo pitch for his fourth homer of the post-season.

Jeff Hoffman struck out the side in the ninth inning for the save. Toronto players streamed out of the dugout to celebrate as the sellout crowd of 44,770 roared.

Blue Jays starter Shane Bieber and Mariners right-hander George Kirby gave up a run apiece in the opening inning. Canadian Josh Naylor drove in Julio Rodriguez to open the scoring and Daulton Varsho singled home Springer in the bottom half.

Rodriguez restored Seattle’s lead with a solo shot in the third and Cal Raleigh went deep off reliever Louis Varland in the fifth.

Seranthony Dominguez, Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt worked in relief ahead of Toronto’s closer. Gausman (2-1) earned the win by throwing a scoreless seventh inning.

The road team was victorious in the first four games of the series. The Mariners won at T-Mobile Park last Friday but the Blue Jays pulled even with a Game 6 win at home on Sunday.