Suárez’s slam powers Mariners past Jays for 3–2 ALCS lead

Seattle trailed 2–1 successful the eighth erstwhile Cal Raleigh lofted a solo changeable that seemed to bent everlastingly earlier dropping into the left-field seats. Four batters later, with the bases loaded aft 2 walks and a hit-by-pitch, Eugenio Suárez turned connected a 98 mph fastball connected the outer 3rd and drove it implicit the right-field wall. The 2nd homer of his nighttime flipped Game 5, sealed a 6–2 triumph implicit Toronto, and gave the Mariners a 3–2 pb successful the ALCS. “This is the biggest location tally of my career,” helium said, calling the infinitesimal “very special” successful beforehand of his household and a roaring T-Mobile Park.

Manager Dan Wilson had shuffled his order—Julio Rodríguez to leadoff, Josh Naylor to cleanup—yet Raleigh and Suárez were the anchors. Toronto’s program to premix relievers unraveled erstwhile Brendon Little mislaid the portion and Seranthony Domínguez’s series of sweepers and vigor could not decorativeness Suárez connected a 2–2 count. The shot cleared the archetypal fewer rows successful close arsenic Nathan Lukes ran retired of room.

A household moment, a franchise chance

This is Suárez’s 12th season, and helium admitted helium had prayed for a nighttime erstwhile enactment and beingness would conscionable similar this. “I’ve been waiting for games similar this my full career,” helium said. He entered October hitting .162 and had batted .189 with 13 homers successful 53 regular-season games aft Seattle reacquired him successful July, yet helium looked unbothered—leaning into a middle-right attack from his pregame work.

Postgame, Suárez walked into the interrogation country with his daughters, Nicolle and Melanie. Asked what they liked champion astir their dad, Nicolle answered, “Doing the location run.” The girls were flying backmost to Miami for school; Suárez was headed to Toronto, wherever Seattle needs 1 much triumph to clinch a first-ever World Series berth.

The Blue Jays, who commencement rookie Trey Yesavage successful Sunday’s must-win Game 6, leaned connected home-field belief. “Our backs are going to beryllium against the wall, great. We don’t springiness a s---,” manager John Schneider said. “We’ll get aft it connected Sunday.”

Game 6 awaits, with Seattle holding the borderline and Toronto promising resistance. For 1 night, the Mariners had joy—and the plaything that carried it.