Blue Jays Win ALCS Game 7, Reach First World Series Since 1993

George Springer’s three-run, go-ahead homer off Eduard Bazardo in the seventh inning gave the Toronto Blue Jays a 4-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners in Game 7 of the ALCS, sending Toronto to its first World Series since 1993. Bazardo, a former Red Sox who had been a heavily used postseason weapon for Seattle, surrendered the decisive blast after entering in relief of Bryan Woo, a managerial decision that drew scrutiny given Bazardo’s recent workload and the availability of rested closer Andrés Muñoz. The homer was notable as the first time in Game 7 history a team trailing by multiple runs in the seventh inning or later took the lead with a home run. Seattle had built a 3-1 lead earlier on homers by Julio Rodríguez and Cal Raleigh, but Toronto’s timely hitting and the Mariners’ miscues allowed the Blue Jays to complete the comeback in the series after dropping the first two home games. Toronto will host the defending-champion Los Angeles Dodgers, featuring Shohei Ohtani, with Game 1 of the World Series set for Friday at Rogers Centre. The win capped a dramatic ALCS in which managerial choices, bullpen usage and late-game heroics decided the pennant.