George Springer’s clutch RBI double tied the game for the Toronto Blue Jays in the fifth inning of ALCS Game 5, but the Seattle Mariners rallied with a late grand slam to secure a 6-2 victory and take a 3-2 series lead. The back-and-forth contest at T-Mobile Park on October 17, 2025, kept fans on edge until the Mariners’ explosive eighth inning sealed the outcome.
The American League Championship Series between the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays reached a critical juncture in Game 5, with the series tied 2-2. Played at a vibrant T-Mobile Park, the game began with the Mariners drawing first blood in the second inning, as Eugenio Suárez launched a solo home run to left field, giving Seattle an early 1-0 advantage. The Blue Jays struggled to respond initially, stranding runners in key situations while Mariners’ starter Bryce Miller and the defense held firm, including a clever double play to escape a bases-loaded threat in the fourth.
Toronto’s offense awakened in the top of the fifth inning, sparked by strategic baserunning and timely hitting. After a leadoff single, the Mariners turned to reliever Matt Brash, who induced a flyout but then faced George Springer with a runner in scoring position. Springer delivered a line-drive double that caromed off the left-center wall, allowing Addison Barger to score and knot the game at 1-1. The hit showcased Springer’s veteran poise under pressure, momentarily shifting momentum to the Blue Jays and silencing the home crowd.
Pitching dominated the middle innings, with Blue Jays’ ace Kevin Gausman delivering a strong performance, allowing just three hits and one run over 5.2 innings before handing the ball to the bullpen. The Mariners countered with a mix of relievers, including Bryan Woo making his return from injury, but Toronto edged ahead in the sixth when Alejandro Kirk doubled and scored on an Ernie Clement single. However, Seattle’s defense, highlighted by Randy Arozarena’s leaping catch to rob a potential home run, kept the game within reach at 2-1.
The turning point came in the bottom of the eighth inning, when the Mariners’ offense erupted for five runs. Cal Raleigh led off with a towering solo home run to left field, his 64th of the year, tying the game at 2-2 and electrifying the stadium. After walks and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, Eugenio Suárez stepped up and crushed a grand slam to right field, clearing the fences and giving Seattle a commanding 6-2 lead. The blast, Suárez’s fourth grand slam of the season, capped a dramatic rally and sent the home fans into a frenzy.
Despite Springer’s earlier heroics, the Blue Jays faced adversity when he was forced to exit the game in the seventh inning after being hit by a pitch on the knee, raising concerns for his availability in the series. Toronto’s bullpen, including Brendon Little and Seranthony Domínguez, could not contain the Mariners’ late surge, and the team now heads back to Rogers Centre facing elimination. The loss underscores the challenges of closing out games on the road in the postseason.
With the victory, the Mariners move within one win of their first-ever World Series appearance, a historic milestone for the franchise. The series shifts to Toronto for Game 6, where the Blue Jays will rely on their home-field advantage and resilience to force a decisive Game 7. Key players like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Julio Rodríguez will need to step up, while Seattle aims to capitalize on their momentum and secure a pennant in hostile territory.
In conclusion, Springer’s tying double highlighted the Blue Jays’ fighting spirit, but Suárez’s grand slam ultimately defined Game 5, emphasizing the unpredictability of playoff baseball. As the ALCS continues, both teams prepare for a high-stakes showdown that could crown a new American League champion and set the stage for the World Series.