SEATTLE — Eugenio Suarez hit a go-ahead grand slam after Cal Raleigh’s tying drive in a five-run eighth inning, giving the Seattle Mariners a 6-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday and a 3-2 lead in the American League Championship Series.
“For our fans, they’ve waiting a long time for this moment and we’re here to give it to them. We’re here to fight for a World Series,” Suárez said.
“Obviously it was really high, so you never know in this building,” Raleigh said. “Luckily today the roof’s closed.”
Jorge Polanco and Josh Naylor walked, and Seranthony Dominguez relieved and hit Randy Arozarena with a pitch.
Suárez fouled off a 2-2 fastball, then hit an opposite-field drive to right, and the ball landed several rows into the seats for his fourth slam this season.
“I’ve been waiting for this for a long time,” Suárez said. “It’s been a while (since) I’ve had a game like this today. It was awesome being to hit that grand slam there to give the win to my team, to the fans. They’ve been here supporting us all year long.”
Seattle’s Bryce Miller was pitching shutout ball when he was removed after allowing Addison Barger’s leadoff single in the fifth, and George Springer hit an RBI double off Matt Brash.
Springer left in the seventh when he was hit on the right kneecap by a 95.6 mph sinker from Bryan Woo. Blue Jays manager John Schneider said he has a right knee contusion.
Pitching for the first time since Sept. 19 after recovering from pectoral tightness, Woo allowed Ernie Clement’s go-ahead single in the sixth.
Raleigh turned only the second 2-3 grounded double into play in postseason history when Clement tapped the ball onto the plate with the bases loaded and one out in the fourth inning. Raleigh grabbed the ball with a foot on the plate for a forceout, then threw to first.
The prior 2-3 DP in Game 2 of the 2000 ALCS also was turned by a Seattle catcher, Dan Wilson, now the Mariners manager.
Toronto wasted many chances, going 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.