The Blue Jays Soar: Toronto Thrashes Mariners To Keep Series Alive

The Toronto Blue Jays aren’t done yet.

After being dominated by the Seattle Mariners in the first two games of the ALCS, the Canadian club flipped the script on Wednesday night by winning 13-4 and keeping its season alive.

First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. shook off early struggles in the series by notching three runs and four hits in four at-bats. Five different players recorded home runs in Wednesday’s rout: Guerrero Jr., outfielder George Springer, second baseman Andres Gimenez, catcher Alejandro Kirk and outfielder Addison Barger.

“It feels great, obviously, but for me, it’s just about winning,” Guerrero Jr. said after the game. “I’m very happy that we won the game. I never think about myself. I think about the whole thing.”

The visitors trailed early and looked to be heading for a 3-0 series deficit when center fielder Julio Rodriguez smashed a two-run home run in the first inning to give Seattle the lead.

But by the third inning, the Blue Jays tied the match after a Gimenez two-run homer. Moments later, they took the lead from a wild pitch and then a double by outfielder Daulton Varsho extended their lead to 5-2.

At that point, there was no looking back for John Schneider‘s side.

“It definitely changed the momentum,” Guerrero Jr. said on Gimenez’s game-tying home run. “That’s what happens when you trust your teammates. You got to trust everyone on that lineup. And when you tie the game like that, everything changed in that dugout.”

The attacking blitz continued as Toronto scored 12 unanswered runs by the sixth inning. Barger added the finishing touches with a one-run home run in the final inning, giving the Blue Jays a commanding 13-4 win.

Schneider’s side will have a chance to level the series with a victory on Thursday in Game 4. For the manager, it’s all about proving the doubters wrong.

“It’s kind of been what we did all year,” he said. “No one expected us to win the division. No one expected us to be here, and I think the guys take that to heart.”