đź”— Share this article Raleigh Hits Home Run as Seattle Mariners Defeat Toronto Blue Jays in Long-Awaited Return to ALCS Cal Raleigh homered, Jorge Polanco delivered the decisive run with a sixth-inning single, and the Mariners overcame the Blue Jays 3-1 on Sunday evening as they returned to the AL Championship Series for the initial occasion in two dozen years. Pitching Mastery on Display George Springer launched a homer on the opening delivery from Miller, who then escaped a two-on jam in a 27-delivery opening frame. Anthony Santander hit a single in the second inning for Toronto’s only other hit, and Mariners pitchers retired 23 out of the final 24 Toronto hitters. The pitching quartet joined forces to throw just 100 deliveries under two days after the Seattle team needed 209 throws to outplay the Tigers over 15 innings. Key Batting Plays Raleigh, the major league home run leader with 60, tied the score in the sixth with his ninth homer in 14 appearances at the Toronto ballpark. Kevin Gausman had previously kept batters hitless on splitters in the postseason before the homer by Raleigh. Polanco delivered a go-ahead base hit later in the inning and added an RBI single in the eighth. “We’re a tough team, you know, one through nine,” Raleigh said. “Pitchers came out today, really, really impressed us. They were outstanding. Especially short rest and the high pitch count the other day.” Seattle, the AL West titleholder journeyed to Toronto, the AL East champion on the prior day after a 3-2 win at home over the Detroit Tigers to claim the Division Series in the most extended decisive contest in MLB history. Historic Achievements Seattle, the sole MLB franchise to never host a World Series game, limited Toronto to just two hits after the Blue Jays had 50 hits along with 34 runs in their four-game Division Series against the Yankees. Miller, who earned the win, struck out three and walked three in six innings, throwing 72 pitches. The three relievers each had perfect innings, with Muñoz getting the save. “This will be a fiercely contested series, for sure,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “Our team will be prepared for it.” Springer’s 21st postseason home run broke a tie with the Derek Jeter of the Yankees, moving him into sole possession of fifth place on the career list. Raleigh's home run was his fourth in 15 at-bats against Gausman, who suffered the defeat. Polanco, the hero of Friday's game, hit a single off Brendon Little to drive in Julio RodrĂguez, who was walked by Gausman. Polanco added another RBI single against Seranthony DomĂnguez. Notable Game Moments Eugenio Suárez doubled off the top of the right-field wall in the seventh against Varland. The 395-foot drive would have been a home run in 15 of 30 big league ballparks, Seattle’s field included. Toronto outfielder Nathan Lukes left in the fourth inning. Lukes bruised his right knee when he fouled a pitch off it in the opening frame.