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Instant Reaction: Mariners defeat Blue Jays in Game 1 of ALCS
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Photo credit: © John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Oct 13, 2025, 08:00 EDTUpdated: Oct 13, 2025, 05:09 EDT
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There’s getting off on the wrong foot, and then there’s whatever the Toronto Blue Jays’ performance was on Sunday evening.
In Game 1 of the American League Championship Series, the Blue Jays fell 3-1 to the Seattle Mariners, the first time they’ve lost at home this postseason. Let’s take a look at what happened in this one.
After Kevin Gausman escaped trouble in the top of the first, the bottom of the first started great for the Jays, as George Springer hit a first-pitch home run to give the Blue Jays their first lead in the ALCS since October 18, 2016.
Gausman cruised through the next four innings and even got the first two outs of the sixth inning before Cal Raleigh stepped up to the plate. On a 2-2 splitter, Major League Baseball’s home run leader hit his second of the postseason to tie the game.
Julio Rodríguez walked, and Gausman was pulled for Brendon Little. After a wild pitch, Jorge Polanco hit an RBI single to give the Mariners a 2-1 lead, a lead they’d never relinquish. Randy Arozarena stole second and third base in the top of the eighth, and Polanco drove in a second run for the 3-1 lead.

Takeaways…

If I had a nickel for every time John Schneider pulled Kevin Gausman too early in a postseason game against the Mariners, just to put in a lefty who struggled, I’d have two nickels. It’s not a lot, but it’s something that shouldn’t happen twice, as Polanco grounded out both times he faced Gausman in the game. Gausman also threw only 76 pitches;  it was far too early to pull their ace.
The bullpen was relatively fine. Brendon Little allowed an inherited run to score, Louis Varland threw a scoreless inning, and Michael Domínguez struggled with command, allowing the third Mariners’ player to cross the plate. Mason Fluharty got Domínguez out of the top of the eighth, striking out both batters he faced. Jeff Hoffman also threw a scoreless inning.
After the game, Gausman took the blame for the loss, but realistically, he pitched well. It was the offence that left the Blue Jays down, as George Springer’s lead-off home run was one of just two hits they had.
If the Blue Jays had a time machine, I bet they would wish they could do the first inning all over again. After Springer’s home run, Nathan Lukes drew a walk, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. lined out, and Addison Barger drew a walk, putting two runners on with one out. Alejandro Kirk flew out, and Daulton Varsho lined out.
During Lukes’ first plate appearance, he fouled a pitch off his knee. He drew the walk and stayed in the game for a bit, but was lifted in the top of the fourth due to a right knee contusion. Hopefully, it’s just a stinger and he’ll be available on Sunday.
This was a perfect opportunity to put a ton of pressure on the Mariners’ pitching staff, as Miller was on three days’ rest and it was reeling from Friday’s 15-inning game in the series-clinching Game 5 against the Detroit Tigers.
If I had to compare this game to something, it would be the stretch from September 15 until September 24, where they were the worst-hitting team in all of baseball. Over this nine-game stretch, they dwindled a five-game division lead to nothing, and registered five or fewer hits in six of nine games. They only had two games with seven or more hits.
Simply put, the Blue Jays cannot fly to Seattle down 2-0 in the series. It’s not quite a must-win game, but Monday’s game with Trey Yesavage on the mound is pivotal in determining how long this series will go. Monday’s game has a 5:03 PM ET start time.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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