TORONTO — The comeback victories were a big reason the Toronto Blue Jays advanced to the American League Championship Series.
George Springer topped them all with a moment that will go down in history as one of the greatest homers in franchise history.
Springer hit a go-ahead three-run single in the seventh inning and closer Jeff Hoffman homered in the ninth, leading the Blue Jays to a dramatic 4-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Monday night.
The victory gave Toronto its first AL pennant since 1993 and a berth in the World Series, which begins Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“I knew I got this guy out of third and that was all I was trying to do,” Springer said in the champagne-soaked locker room. “And then it left the park. I'll take it.”
With Isaiah Kiner-Falefa and Addison Barger in scoring position, Springer hit a 384-foot hit off reliever Eduard Bazardo.
A sacrifice fly with a run scored was a great call, but the ball kept coming and barely missed the wall before landing on the first row of seats. It was Springer's fourth homer of the postseason and the 23rd of his playoff career.
“He's one of the best to make it after the season,” Hoffman said. “I’m really glad he’s on our side.”
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Toronto led the major leagues with 49 regular season wins. The Blue Jays needed each of them as Toronto edged New York in a tiebreaker when both teams finished with 94 wins.
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This gave the Blue Jays the opportunity to advance to the wild card round. Toronto then eliminated the Yankees in the ALDS to advance to the Championship Series for the first time since 2016.
After losing their first two games at home to Seattle, the Blue Jays won four in five games to eliminate the Mariners and book their ticket to the World Series.
“We're all in this together, and that's what it's all about,” Blue Jays pitcher Eric Lauer said as teammates poured beer on his head. “Ahh, that feels so good.”
The party continued in the locker room as the players partied for the fourth time this year. The latest celebration was preceded by a playoff berth, an East title and an ALDS victory.
“We're out of beer,” Toronto pitcher Max Scherzer said before moving to another cooler. “I didn't think it was possible.”
There was plenty of foam and bottles of champagne nearby as players, coaches and support staff let loose, knowing they were just four wins away from the World Series crown.
Blue Jays right-hander Shane Bieber and Mariners right-hander George Kirby started Game 7, but neither hurler reached Game 5.
Both teams scored in the first frame. Julio Rodriguez hit a single in the third and Cal Raleigh made it 3-1 with a solo homer in the fifth.
The Blue Jays hit occasional singles but were unable to get any extra-base hits.
The sold-out crowd of 44,770 came alive in the seventh when Barger led off and singled Kiner-Falefa. Andres Jimenez advanced them with a sacrifice bunt and waved his arms to make the fans even louder as he ran back to the bench.
That set the stage for Springer, who had looked limited in the last two games after throwing a pitch from his knee in Game 5.
He hit a 1-0 sinker and hit a run that would join a list of franchise records that includes Joe Carter's 1993 World Series, Jose Bautista's 2015 pitch, Roberto Alomar's 1992 Oakland pitch and Edwin Encarnacion's 2016 wild card.
Springer watched him with wide eyes for several seconds, not sure if he had caught the distance. The rest of his run around the bases was a blur.
“I passed out,” he said with a laugh.
Next up for Canada's only major league team is a showdown with two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers.
“We know they're a great team, and I know we're a great team built differently,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “But man, I can’t wait to go head to head with them.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 20, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
