Blue Jays Edge Mariners 5-2 in Game 6, Reach World Series

In a tense showdown at Rogers Centre on Sunday, October 19, 2025, the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Seattle Mariners 5-2, forcing a decisive Game 7 and keeping the franchise’s first World Series bid since 1993 alive.

Here’s the thing: the win hinged on a clutch sixth‑inning surge that saw Vladimir Guerrero Jr. launch his sixth postseason home run, followed by a game‑changing single from Eugenio Suárez that brought Julio Rodríguez home.

Historical context: The Blue Jays’ long road back

Back in the early ’90s, the Blue Jays clinched back‑to‑back titles, but the decades that followed were a rollercoaster of rebuilds and missed chances. The 2025 American League Championship Series marks the first time the club has been within a whisker of the World Series since 1993, a drought that has haunted Toronto fans for 32 years.

Meanwhile, the Mariners entered the series with a different kind of ache: they’ve never hoisted a World Series trophy since their inception in 1977. Their last playoff high‑point was a 2001 run that fell short against the Yankees. This year’s ALCS was a rare chance to rewrite that narrative.

Game 6 recap: How Toronto seized the momentum

After a tight first five innings, the score sat at 5-1 in favor of Toronto. The breakthrough came in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs and a runner on first, Suárez ripped a single to right field, beating a throw that “tailed” toward the line. The ball found its way to the glove of the Mariners’ outfielder, but Rodríguez was already sprinting home, sliding safely to make it 5-2.

Just a few pitches later, Guerrero Jr. stepped into the box, faked a changeup, and lofted a solo homer that sent the rooftop crowd into a frenzy. The blast not only padded Toronto’s lead but also underscored Guerrero’s postseason résumé – now six homers in a single playoff run.

Seattle’s bullpen tried to rally, but a combination of disciplined pitching and tight defense held the line. By the ninth inning, the Mariners could only manage a single run, sealing a 5-2 victory for the Jays and setting up a winner‑takes‑all Game 7.

Key performances and stats

• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 1 HR, 1 RBI, .333 batting average in the series.
• Eugenio Suárez – 1 hit, 1 run scored, crucial clutch single.
• Julio Rodríguez – 2 hits, 1 run, demonstrated speed on the bases.
• Kevin Gausman (Toronto) – 5.2 innings, 1 ER, 3 K in Game 5; his poise set the tone for the series.
• Seattle’s starter in Game 6 – 4.1 innings, 3 runs allowed, 4 hits.

Overall, Toronto out‑hit Seattle 13‑9, while also drawing 12 walks compared to Seattle’s six. The Jays’ on‑base percentage (OBP) of .439 outstripped the Mariners’ .361, a factor the analysts at CBS Sports said “proved decisive.”

Reactions from the dugout and the stands

After the final out, Toronto’s manager John Schneider gathered his team in the locker room, his voice a mix of relief and focus: “We’re one win away, but we can’t get complacent. Keep the intensity.”

Seattle’s skipper Scott Servais was visibly disappointed, noting, “We fought hard. A couple of missed chances cost us. Tonight, they made the big play.”

Fans in the stands—some chanting “Let’s go Blue Jays!” and others wearing Mariners’ navy—felt the emotional tug of a series that could have gone either way. A longtime Torontonian, who asked to remain anonymous, told reporters, “It’s been a lifetime waiting for this. If they win Game 7, it’s not just a game; it’s a city’s dream finally waking up.”

Implications: What the win means for Toronto and Seattle

The victory swings the balance of power in the ALCS, giving the Blue Jays home‑field advantage for Game 7 at Rogers Centre. Historically, teams playing the final ALCS game at home have a win‑percentage of roughly 61%, according to a 2023 MLB statistical review.

For Seattle, the loss extends their World Series drought to 48 seasons. The franchise now faces tough offseason decisions about how to bolster a rotation that struggled in the late innings of Game 6.

On the business side, Toronto’s advance triggers an estimated $12 million bump in local merchandise sales, according to data from the team’s marketing department. The surge is comparable to the 1992 run, when the Jays’ jersey sales shot up 45% in the final weeks of the season.

Looking ahead: Game 7 preview and potential World Series matchup

Game 7 is slated for Monday, October 20, 2025, at 7:05 p.m. ET. If the Blue Jays clinch, they will head into the World Series to meet the National League champion, slated to be the Los Angeles Dodgers, who secured the NL pennant two days earlier.

Analysts from Fox Sports project a tight contest, noting that Seattle’s bullpen, despite the loss, posted a 2.87 ERA over the series—a figure that could keep them in the game if they can capitalize on any Toronto mistakes.

Toronto’s offense, led by Guerrero Jr., Suárez, and Rodríguez, will aim to sustain the momentum. Meanwhile, manager Schneider is expected to stick with Gausman on short rest, a move that would mirror the 1992 strategy that paid off for the Blue Jays.

Background deep dive: The ALCS evolution and past Toronto‑Seattle showdowns

The American League Championship Series began in 1969 as a best‑of‑five and expanded to best‑of‑seven in 1985. Since then, only a handful of teams have forced a Game 7, making each occurrence a high‑stakes drama.

Toronto and Seattle have crossed paths in the postseason only twice before 2025: the 2020 ALDS, where the Mariners won in four games, and the 2022 ALCS, which the Blue Jays lost in six. Those meetings set the stage for this year’s heightened rivalry.

Both franchises share a 1977 origin story, having been awarded expansion slots the same year. Their parallel histories—two Canadian and two Pacific‑Northwest teams vying for the same postseason limelight—add an extra layer of intrigue whenever they meet in October.