Blue Jays Stave Off Elimination with 6-2 Win, Force Game 7

When Toronto Blue Jays edged Seattle Mariners 6-2 in Game 6 of the 2025 American League Championship Series on October 19, the series was forced into a winner‑take‑all finale.

The decisive game unfolded at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, where both clubs had already tasted heartbreak earlier in the week. Seattle, perched just one win away from its first World Series, entered the night desperate to close the deal, while the Blue Jays were staring down the barrel of elimination.

Game 6 Recap: How Toronto Turned the Tables

Toronto’s offense sparked early, with Ernie Clement—who entered the matchup batting .429—sending a line drive to left‑center that slipped through the Mariners’ infield. The run was capped by a clean‑up double from Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who raced home on a misplay by the Seattle defense.

Mid‑innings saw a flurry of hits from the Jays’ lower‑order, most notably a hard‑driven center‑field single by Nate Marshall. His ball was batted down by Mariners’ outfielder Julio Rodriguez, allowing Gurriel to bolt to second for a double‑play‑preventing stretch.

Seattle tried to rally in the fourth, pulling a pair of runs thanks to a two‑run homer from Cal Raleigh. But the damage was already done; Toronto’s bullpen slammed the door, with Chris Pietri striking out the side in the seventh.

Key Performances That Shaped the Outcome

• Ernie Clement finished 3‑for‑4, driving in two runs and posting an OPS of 1.250.
• Luis Cessa (Toronto starter) logged six solid innings, allowing just one earned run on four hits.
• For Seattle, Eugenio Suárez committed his fourth error of the series, a crucial misplay that extended a Toronto rally in the sixth.
• Mariners’ ace Logan Anderson was tagged for three runs in five innings, a sharp contrast to his dominant Game 5 outing.

“We knew we had to be aggressive from the first pitch,” Clement said after the game. “The guys behind me gave me the space to swing, and the crowd fed that energy.”

Mariners’ manager Scott Servais was visibly frustrated when Suárez’s error turned a routine grounder into a Toronto runner on third. “It’s a tough way to lose a game, but we’ll learn from it,” Servais remarked, his tone a mix of disappointment and resolve.

Defensive Woes: Mariners’ Errors Take a Toll

The series has turned into a defensive saga for Seattle. Suárez’s third‑base error marked the fourth miscue for the Mariners in the ALCS, each one extending Toronto’s offensive chances. In Game 5, a bobble by shortstop Caleb Kirk had already cost Seattle a run; now the third‑base slip further widened the gap.

Baseball analysts point out that the Mariners have committed 13 total errors across the seven‑game series, the highest for any team in a League Championship Series since 2012. “When you’re that sloppy in the field, you’re giving the other team free baserunners,” said former MLB infielder Darryl Straw, now a commentator for SportsNet.

Implications for Game 7: What’s at Stake?

Game 7 will be a high‑stakes showdown at the Rogers Centre on October 22. A win puts Toronto on a direct path to the World Series—its first appearance since 1993—while Seattle would finally break a 30‑year drought without a World Series berth.

If the Blue Jays can maintain the offensive rhythm showcased by Clement and Marshall, they’ll force Seattle’s pitching staff back on the ropes. Conversely, the Mariners must tighten up defensively and lean on the power of Raleigh, who has a .375 batting average in the series.

Veteran analyst Bob Costas predicts a “tight, low‑scoring affair” if Seattle’s bullpen regains composure. “The pressure will be palpable for both managers. Small mistakes will decide the championship,” he noted.

Historical Context: A Rare ALCS Duel

The last time the Blue Jays forced a Game 7 in the ALCS was back in 1992, when they ultimately fell to the Oakland Athletics. For the Mariners, reaching a seventh game in a league championship series is unprecedented; their deepest playoff run came in 2001, when they lost the World Series in a dramatic seven‑game thriller.

Seattle’s 2025 campaign marks the franchise’s first ALCS appearance since 2001, while Toronto’s resurgence underscores a return to form after a decade of sporadic postseason success. The rivalry, sparked by earlier matchups in 2018 and 2021, now has a new chapter—one that could rewrite both clubs’ histories.

What the Numbers Say

1. Team batting average: Toronto .281 vs. Seattle .257.
2. Turnovers: Mariners 13 errors; Blue Jays 4.
3. Runs per game: Toronto 5.2, Seattle 4.1.
4. Pitching ERA in the series: Toronto 3.62, Seattle 4.09.

These figures illustrate why Toronto’s win feels less like a surprise and more like a statistical inevitability after three strong offensive outings.

Looking Ahead: The Road to the World Series

Should Toronto emerge victorious in Game 7, they will likely face the National League champion—either the Los Angeles Dodgers or the Atlanta Braves, both of whom have clinched their league titles early. The Blue Jays’ balanced lineup gives them a realistic shot at upending the odds against any NL powerhouse.

Seattle, on the other hand, will have to digest a second‑round loss and evaluate whether their defensive frailties stem from player fatigue or strategic misalignment. In the offseason, the Mariners are expected to target a shoring‑up of the infield, with rumors swirling about a potential trade for a veteran shortstop.