SEATTLE – Eugenio Suárez hit a go-ahead grand slam off Cal Raleigh's five-run eighth-inning run, giving the Seattle Mariners a 6-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday and a 3-2 lead in the American League Champions Series.
Suarez also hit a home run in the second inning, giving Seattle its first victory. The Mariners became the first home team to win the Series, capping off the franchise's first World Series trip in 1977.
Game 6 is Sunday night in Toronto.
“For our fans, they've been waiting for this moment for a long time and we're here to give it to them. We're here to play for a World Series,” Suarez said.
“That's the biggest home run of my career,” Eugenio Suárez said of Seattle's late go-ahead grand slam that put Seattle on the verge of reaching the World Series for the first time. AP Photo/David J. Phillip
Rowley, a changeup catcher who led the majors with 60 home runs during the regular season, hit right-handed for the first time in the Series when he led off the eighth inning with a 2-0 changeup off losing pitcher Brendon Little.
The 348-foot-long ball arced 155 feet above the field, hung for 6.7 seconds, and sailed over the left field wall at T-Mobile Park. Raleigh hit his fourth home run of the postseason to tie the game at 2-2.
“Obviously it's really high, so you would never know in this building,” Rowley said. “Fortunately, the roof is closed today.”
Jorge Polanco and Josh Naylor walked, Seranthony Dominguez was relieved, and Randy Arozarena was hit by a pitch.
Suarez fouled out a 2-2 fastball and hit it to right, where it landed a few rows down for his fourth grand slam of the season.
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“Obviously, this is the biggest home run of my career,” Suarez said.
Suarez gave Seattle the lead in Game 2 against Kevin Gausman, but he entered the game sluggish on 6-for-50 shooting. Acquired from Arizona before the trade deadline, he hit 49 homers in the regular season and three in the postseason.
“I've been waiting for this moment for a long time,” Suarez said. “It's been a while. [since] I also played a game like this today. It's great [able] To hit a grand slam out there and bring victory to my team and the fans. They've been here to support us all year long. “
Seattle's Bryce Miller was ejected after giving up Addison Barger's first single in the fifth inning as he was delivering the buzzer-beater and George Springer hit an RBI double off Matt Brash.
Springer left in the seventh inning when his right knee was hit by a 95.6 mph sinker from Bryan Woo. Blue Jays manager John Schneider said he suffered a contusion on his right knee.
Wu, making his first appearance since recovering from chest tightness on Sept. 19, allowed a leadoff single by Ernie Clement in the sixth inning.
Toronto wasted a lot of chances, going 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
Raleigh got its second 2-3 grounder double in postseason history when Clement smacked the ball to home plate with the bases loaded and one out in the fourth inning. Rowley grabbed the ball with one foot on the plate, hit it hard, and pitched to first.
A previous 2-3 DP in Game 2 of the 2000 ALCS was also reversed by Seattle catcher and current Mariners head coach Dan Wilson.
This report used information from The Associated Press.