Game 1 of the 2025 American League Championship Series did little to dispel one of the clearest narratives entering the matchup: that Seattle’s pitching depth may prove a decisive edge in a long series. In a tightly contested 3-1 victory over Toronto, the Mariners managed not just to survive, but to impose their will. They stifled a Blue Jays offense that has turned heads during the season, silencing their bats at precisely the moments when Toronto needed them most.
From the opening pitch, the Jays struck—George Springer launched the first offering he saw from Bryce Miller deep for a leadoff home run, marking the first time in franchise playoff history Toronto began a game that way. Yet beyond that early salvo, the offense fizzled. After Springer’s blast, the Blue Jays recorded only one more hit the rest of the night.
Seattle’s starter, Bryce Miller, delivered a clutch outing under pressure. Pitching on just three days’ rest, Miller silenced Toronto’s lineup with six innings of two-hit, one-run work, walking three and striking out three. After the rough start, he retired 13 straight Blue Jays hitters, keeping the game within reach.
The turning point came in the sixth inning. Cal Raleigh, who slugged 60 homers during the regular season, responded with a two-out solo shot off Kevin Gausman, tying the game at 1–1. Julio Rodríguez walked, and after Gausman was pulled, Jorge Polanco plated the go-ahead run on an RBI single. Polanco later added a second RBI single in the eighth, padding Seattle’s lead to 3–1.
The Blue Jays’ pitching fight was solid early. Gausman, their ace, had retired 16 Mariners in a row before Raleigh’s homer, and through 5⅔ innings he allowed just two hits and struck out five. But his sixth inning began to unravel. After issuing a walk to Rodríguez, Gausman was removed, and Toronto’s bullpen could not stem the bleeding. A wild pitch from Brendon Little put the runner in scoring position, and Polanco’s single made Gausman’s exit costly.
Seattle’s bullpen sealed the deal. Gabe Speier worked a perfect seventh, Matt Brash delivered a spotless eighth, and closer Andrés Muñoz slammed the door shut in the ninth. Combined, Seattle’s relievers threw “nine up, nine down” after Miller exited.
The Jays offered occasional glimpses of life—an Anthony Santander single, a drawn 12-pitch walk by Nathan Lukes—but nothing sustained enough to threaten the Mariners. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., a key offensive presence, went 0-for-4 with a line drive that fizzled.
In taking Game 1 on the road, Seattle seized early momentum in the ALCS. They overcame the fatigue of a 15-inning Division Series Game 5 and travel delays, and forced Toronto to play from behind. Seattle’s pitching depth, lineup resilience, and bullpen execution all were on full display. Toronto, meanwhile, must look inward—the onus is now on a largely silent offense to produce when it matters.
Game 2 looms as a critical juncture. A split in Toronto would allow Seattle to return home with command. The Jays must rediscover their swing. The Mariners, with their staff and bullpen functioning at a high level, have proven in Game 1 that they can quiet even one of the game’s more dangerous lineups.
