TORONTO – Timely hitting. Quality pitching. Stellar defence.
The Toronto Blue Jays focused on the fundamentals Sunday and it paid off with a 6-2 win over the Seattle Mariners in Game 6 that has each teams one win away from the World Series.
Addison Barger and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. homered and starter Trey Yesavage went 5 2/3 innings for the win as Toronto forced a decisive Game 7 within the American League Championship Series on Monday night at Rogers Centre.
“It’s pretty frickin’ cool that we’re where we’re,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. “I’m not going to lie. You’ve got to maintain your foot on the gas and prepare for tomorrow.”
The winner will meet the Los Angeles Dodgers within the World Series.
Toronto hasn’t been to the Fall Classic since winning a second straight title in 1993. The Mariners have never been to the World Series.
Yesavage set the early tone in Toronto’s first must-win game of the post-season by striking out 4 of the primary six batters he faced. The rookie right-hander allowed two earned runs, three walks and 6 hits.
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He left to a standing ovation from the sellout crowd of 44,764 at Rogers Centre that was raucous from the opening pitch.
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“This was probably the most electric, energized crowd I’ve ever played in front of before and the team rallied behind the fans,” Yesavage said. “They were an enormous motivation for us.”
The road team won every game within the series until Seattle picked up a 6-2 victory in Game 5 at T-Mobile Park.
Back at home for Game 6, the Blue Jays got here out firing with back-to-back two-run frames. Barger’s homer within the third inning off Logan Gilbert staked Toronto to a 4-0 lead.
The Seattle starter was pulled after Guerrero led off the fifth inning with a solo shot.
It was the Toronto slugger’s sixth homer of the playoffs, tying him with Jose Bautista and Joe Carter for probably the most by a Blue Jay in a single post-season.
“It’s just one in every of those things where you expect him to do something extremely Vladimir-like,” said Toronto designated hitter George Springer. “He’s been unbelievable.”
Josh Naylor of Mississauga, Ont., hit a solo homer in Seattle’s two-run sixth.
Guerrero scored again within the seventh after a wild pitch by reliever Matt Brash of Kingston, Ont. Guerrero broke for third base and a throwing error by catcher Cal Raleigh allowed him to trot home.
Toronto turned three double-plays on the night to flee some jams. Seattle struggled defensively with three errors on the night.
The Blue Jays relievers also got here through after a rough night for the bullpen in Game 5. Louis Varland recorded 4 outs and Jeff Hoffman had 4 strikeouts over a two-inning appearance.
“Which will have been the most effective I’ve seen him, like ever,” Varland said of Toronto’s closer. “I mean he was punching everybody out. Weak contact, you name it.”
After a 94-win regular season, that is where Toronto’s No. 1 seeding within the American League pays off. The Blue Jays get to host Game 7 and feed off the vocal support from their rabid fanbase.
Blue Jays right-hander Shane Bieber was tabbed to begin against George Kirby.
“We’ve been doing a extremely good job of passing the baton, so to talk,” Bieber said. “Ultimately, every game is a person game and that’s the gorgeous thing about baseball.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 19, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press