Game Two of the ALCS was an opportunity to make up for the Game One loss to the home fans, with Toronto Blue Jays’ starting pitcher Trey Sevsavage making his second career postseason start. The Seattle Mariners countered with starting pitcher Logan Gilbert. After failing with the pitching advantage in the first game, could the bats supply enough to back up the rookie, or would the visitors keep them in check once again? All stats provided by MLB.
Yesavage started the game with two strikes, and what appeared to be strike three was called a ball by the home plate umpire. Even the batter walked towards the dugout, conceding the strikeout. The rookie then hit Mariners’ outfielder Randy Arozarena, which brought up the dangerous catcher, Cal Raleigh. A full count led to a walk, putting runners on first and second with nobody out. Things went from bad to worse after giving up a homer to the next batter, putting the Mariners up 3-0.
Blue Jays’ DH George Springer answered the call in the bottom half of the inning. After hitting a would-be homerun slightly foul, he hammered a double off the wall, putting a runner in scoring position with no outs. Outfielder Nathan Lukes hit a groundout to first, but the first baseman botched the throw to the covering pitcher, making it 3-1 from the error. A groundout later, catcher Alejandro Kirk hit an RBI single to get his team back within one.
Yesavage bounced back in the second inning, which was hitless, and ended with a strikeout. Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement rewarded him in the bottom half with a leadoff single. Two groundouts moved the runner to third before Springer worked a walk. Lukes then tied the game on an RBI single, leaving runners on the corners with two outs. Gilbert pitched out of the jam to keep it tied heading into the third.
The Mariners earned a walk before grounding into a fielder’s choice, which eliminated the lead runner. A single put runners on the corners with two outs. It appears a would-be blooper into the outfield was going to score one or two of those runs, if not for the highlight-worthy sliding catch from centerfielder Dalton Varsho. Gilbert shut down the side to keep it 3-3 heading to the fourth. The fourth was a quick one-two-three inning for both sides, which included Gilbert being relieved by Eduward Bazardo.
Arozarena put the first pitch in play, forcing shortstop Andres Gimenez to make a tough catch-and-throw. The throw was over the head of first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., which was ruled an infield hit plus an error. An intentional walk to Raleigh later, the Blue Jays went to the bullpen.
Reliever Louis Varland inherited two on with nobody out. He struck out center fielder Julio Rodriguez, but gave up a three-run homer to infielder Jorge Polanco, putting the Mariners back up 6-3. He retired the next three batters, including two strikeouts, but the damage was already done. Lukes reached based for the home team in the bottom half of the inning, but it didn’t lead to any run production.
The Blue Jays sent out reliever Mason Fluharty to face the Mariners in the sixth, but a leadoff triple to the number seven hitter wasn’t the plan. One out later, he gave up an RBI blooper, chasing him out of the game at 7-3. Toronto relief pitcher Brayden Fisher put out the fire with two strikeouts. Seattle reliever Carlos Vargas pitched a clean one-two-three inning in the bottom of the frame.
The second batter of the inning was first baseman Josh Naylor, who went yard for a two-run dinger. Toronto continued to crumble as the new reliever walked the first guy he faced. The bases were then loaded, which brought Chris Bassitt into the game, who has been a starter all year. A sac-fly and strikeout later, the fans were upset over the 10-3 deficit during the seventh-inning stretch. The Blue Jays reached base, but once again, couldn’t take advantage.
After a scoreless top half of the eighth, the Mariners sent out their low-leverage reliever, Emerson Hancock. It took him eight pitches to throw a strike, and he started with back-to-back walks. The Blue Jays had loud contact, but still failed to score off of him.
Blue Jays’ reliever Eric Lauer got some work in the ninth. He kept the score where it was, giving up just one hit, before turning it over to the bats for a last-ditch effort. His teammates, however, had nothing left in the tank. The game ended 10-3.
The Mariners powered their way to a 2-0 series lead and look for a clean sweep as the teams head to Seattle. The first starting pitcher matchup features Blue Jays’ Shane Bieber and George Kirby for the home team. Look for Bieber to have a short leash. He’s gotten worse in each of the last four games, including only 2.2 IP for a 6.75 ERA in his ALDS start against the New York Yankees. Kirby, on the other hand, is only getting better, including a 2.70 ERA in his two 2025 postseason starts.
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