TORONTO, ONTARIO – OCTOBER 12: Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners tosses his bat after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in game one of the American League Championship Series at Rogers Centre on October 12, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
Getty Images
The Seattle Mariners defeated the Toronto Blue Jays, 3-1 in the first of their best-of-seven American League Division Series.
The game was played under the closed roof at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.
George Springer led off the bottom of the first inning with a Blue Jays home run off Mariners starter, Bryce Miller.
Springer’s homer came on the first pitch of the game, but the Blue Jays bats went silent for the next 8 innings.
Mariners All Star, American League MVP candidate, Cal Raleigh tied the game with a big home run blast in the 6th inning.
It was Raleigh’s big blow that swung the game in favor of Seattle.
Like he has done time and time again, Cal Raleigh led the Mariners to victory.
A total of six pitchers worked for the Mariners, as they completely silenced a very solid Blue Jays lineup.
The Rogers Centre was rocking after the Springer homer, but the home team didn’t give them much to cheer about the rest of the way.
The Blue Jays had been scoring runs in bunches until the first game of the Championship Series.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – OCTOBER 05: Jorge Polanco #7 of the Seattle Mariners rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Detroit Tigers during the sixth inning in game two of the Division Series at T-Mobile Park on October 05, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Mariners second baseman, Jorge Polanco has come to life in the postseason.
It was Polanco’s big hit in the 15th inning against the Detroit Tigers that gave his team the ticket to the American League Championship Series.
If the Mariners players were exhausted from their marathon game in Seattle, they really didn’t show it.
TORONTO, ONTARIO – OCTOBER 12: Kevin Gausman #34 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches during the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in game one of the American League Championship Series at Rogers Centre on October 12, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Kevin Gausman started for Toronto, and went 5.2 innings for the Blue Jays, yielding two runs on five hits. He walked one and stuck out five. He clearly kept his team in the game, and gave them a chance to win.
Miller, pitching on short three day rest following the Mariners American League Division Series victory, went six innings for Seattle. He gave up one run on two hits. He walked three, and struck out three.
Mariners pitching kept Blue Jays first baseman Vlad Guerrero Jr. in check. Guerrero Jr. had been an extremely hot hitter in the playoffs,, but he was held hitless by Mariners pitching. He left game 1 hitting .429 in the postseason.
The Blue Jays had a great chance to tie or win the game in the bottom of the 9th inning, as some of their best hitters were coming to the plate.
The Mariners turned to their closer, Andres Munoz to face the 4th, 5th, and 6th hitters in the Blue Jays lineup in the 9th.
TORONTO, ONTARIO – OCTOBER 12: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts while running to the dugout during the fifth inning against the Seattle Mariners in game one of the American League Championship Series at Rogers Centre on October 12, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Guerrero Jr. led off with a ground out to Mariners shortstop, J.P. Crawford. Guerrero Jr. went 0-for-4 in the game.
Addison Barger flew out to center fielder Julio Rodriguez for the second out.
Alejandro Kirk flew out to left fielder Randy Arozarena.
Game over.
Mariners pitchers took out the Blue Jays in just 100 pitches, retiring 23 of the final 24 hitters they faced.
The Mariners have interrupted the home field advantage the Blue Jays had coming into the game.
But the Mariners prevailed.
There is a long way to go in the series, but in baseball, like every other sport, momentum matters.
Game 1 was a big win for the Mariners.
Seattle has the momentum.
Game 2 of the American League Championship Series is scheduled for Monday, October 13 at 5:03PM EST.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/berniepleskoff/2025/10/12/mariners-raleigh-around-cal-to-win-game-1-vs-toronto-blue-jays/
