đ Share this article Cal Raleigh Homers as Seattle Mariners Defeat Blue Jays in Much-Anticipated Return to ALCS Cal Raleigh homered, Jorge Polanco drove in the go-ahead run with a sixth frame single, and the Seattle Mariners overcame the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 on Sunday evening as they made their return to the ALCS for the first time in 24 years. Defensive Mastery on Show George Springer launched a homer on the opening delivery from Bryce Miller, who then got out of a two-on jam in a 27-delivery first inning. Anthony Santander hit a single in the second inning for Torontoâs sole additional hit, and Mariners pitchers set down 23 of the Blue Jaysâ final 24 batters. The pitching quartet combined to throw just 100 pitches under two days after the Mariners needed 209 pitches to outlast the Tigers over 15 frames. Crucial Offensive Plays Raleigh, the major league home run leader with 60, evened the game in the sixth with his ninth home run in 14 games at the Toronto ballpark. Kevin Gausman had held batters to 0 for 16 on splitters in the playoffs before the home run by Raleigh. Polanco hit a go-ahead single subsequently in the frame and added an RBI single in the eighth. âWeâre a tough team, you know, one through nine,â Raleigh said. âOur pitchers performed today, really, really impressed us. They did awesome. Particularly on short rest and the high pitch count the other day.â Seattle, the AL West titleholder traveled to AL East winner Toronto on Saturday after a 3-2 win at home over the Tigers to win the Division Series in the longest winner-take-all game in Major League Baseball history. Historic Achievements The Mariners, the only MLB team to never host a Fall Classic game, held Toronto to two hits after the Toronto squad had 50 hits and 34 runs in their four-game playoff series against the New York Yankees. Miller, who earned the win, struck out three and walked three in six innings, throwing 72 pitches. The bullpen trio each had perfect innings, with Muñoz securing the save. âThis is going to be a hard-fought series, for sure,â Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. âThese guys will be ready for it.â Springer's 21st playoff homer broke a tie with the Yankeesâ Derek Jeter, placing him alone in fifth position 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 bring home Julio RodrĂguez, who was issued a walk by the pitcher. Polanco added another RBI single against DomĂnguez. Memorable Game Highlights Eugenio SuĂĄrez hit a double off the top of the right-field wall in the seventh inning against Varland. The 395-foot drive would have been a home run in half of MLB stadiums, Seattleâs field included. Toronto outfielder Nathan Lukes left in the fourth inning. Lukes sustained a right knee bruise when he fouled a ball into his knee in the first inning.