Springer’s HR sends Blue Jays to World Series with 4-3 win over Mariners in Game 7 of ALCS

By IAN HARRISON TORONTO AP George Springer put Toronto ahead with a three-run homer in the seventh inning and the Toronto Blue Jays advanced to the World Series for the first time since by beating the Seattle Mariners - in Meeting of the American League Championship Series on Monday night It was the first go-ahead homer in Event history when a unit trailed by multiple runs in the seventh inning or later The Blue Jays will host Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers in Challenge on Friday night when the World Series comes to Canada for the third time The defending champion Dodgers swept Milwaukee in the NLCS The Blue Jays were playing in a Tournament for the first time since losing at home to Kansas City in the ALCS Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodr guez each hit a solo home run for the Mariners in the organization s first Tournament but Seattle failed to reach its first World Series leaving the heartbroken Mariners as the only major league gang without a pennant Addison Barger walked to begin the seventh and Isiah Kiner-Falefa followed with a single Seattle right-hander Bryan Woo of Alameda was removed after Andr s Gim nez advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt and Springer greeted Eduard Bazardo with his fourth homer of this postseason a -foot drive to left field that got the sellout crowd of roaring Toronto went - at home in the regular season and - at home in the AL playoffs Making his first bullpen appearance since Meeting of the Division Series Kevin Gausman pitched one inning of scoreless relief working around three walks to earn the win for Toronto Fellow starter Chris Bassitt pitched a perfect eighth and Jeff Hoffman finished for his second save this postseason Rodr guez opened the event with a double and scored on a one-out single by Josh Naylor Daulton Varsho tied it with an RBI single off George Kirby in the bottom half before Rodr guez restored the lead for Seattle with a leadoff homer in the third Raleigh who led the majors with homers in the regular season made it - with a leadoff homer against Louis Varland in the fifth Raleigh has home runs in career games at Rogers Centre three of them in the postseason He also homered at Toronto in Event of a Wild Card Series and Tournament of this year s ALCS Naylor was called out to end the first after umpires ruled he interfered with Ernie Clement s relay to first base on a double play by jumping into the throw and deflecting it Related Articles Blue Jays beat Mariners - to force Encounter of ALCS SF Giants reportedly closing in on college coach as new manager Shohei Ohtani hits homers dominates on mound in Dodgers clinching - NLCS win over Brewers Mariners a win from first World Series beat Blue Jays on Su rez s grand slam for - ALCS lead In trial testimony former Angels VP denies knowing staffer was providing illicit drugs to players Kirby allowed one run and four hits in four innings He walked one and struck out three Blue Jays starter Shane Bieber permitted two runs and seven hits in innings He walked one and struck out five Toronto slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr arrived at the stadium wearing a Maple Leafs hockey jersey with Auston Matthews name and number The star forward is - in Match s with Toronto during his seasons in the NHL