Monday was going to be either the single biggest game in Seattle Mariners history, or the single most painful moment.

The Mariners’ gutting ALSC Game 7 loss was the latter.

Heartbreak: Seattle Mariners sunk by Blue Jays in ALCS Game 7

The worst part? It felt perfectly avoidable. Seattle never trailed in the first 6 1/2 innings, striking first with an RBI single from Josh Naylor to score Julio Rodríguez and adding on with solo shots from both Rodríguez and Cal Raleigh.

A two-run lead was hardly enough insurance to feel safe against a Blue Jays lineup that had out-hit the Mariners throughout the series, but smart managing and close-to-perfect pitching might be enough.

They were three innings away from ending their title as the only club to never make it to a World Series. A 21-year playoff drought, the longest in North American professional sports at the time, that finally ended in 2022 was a sin that could be forgiven with the salvation of a World Series appearance a few years later. It would be worth it, surely.

But, in a surprising move, manager Dan Wilson — who’d already pulled George Kirby earlier than some fans would’ve liked — turned to Eduard Bazardo out of the bullpen to face the top of the Blue Jays’ lineup. First it was a surprising lack of patience, and now it was a confounding decision. Even the broadcasting crew was surprised. Why wouldn’t Wilson turn to his closer, Andrés Muñoz, in such a pivotal moment? And would Wilson opt to walk either George Springer or Vlad Guerrero Jr.?

He did not. Bazardo came in for Woo. Runners on second and third. It was a decision that felt risky, and it backfired quickly: Bazardo, who had been stellar this postseason particularly in long relief efforts, surrendered a go-ahead home run to Springer and the game flipped for good. Probably the wrong call, but definitely the wrong execution – and a shame, since Bazardo had been so impressive this October.

“Bazardo has been the guy that’s gotten us through those situations, those tight ones, especially in the pivot role, and that’s where we were going at that point,” Wilson told reporters after the game.

While he’s right about what Bazardo has brought this club in October, it certainly didn’t seem like the right call. At the very least it was a curious one. So too was it to have Bazardo, who’d been brought in on Sunday in a losing effort, pitch to Springer.

Speaking of pitching, though, there’s a level of blame here on the execution of those pitches. The pitching had been such a huge part of what carried Seattle through the ALDS, from starters to bullpen arms. But that faltered in the ALCS. And while Seattle continued to out-homer Toronto, the Blue Jays’ lineup made so much consistent contact beginning in Game 3.

What’s next?

In the months to come, we’ll spend time combing over the season and talking about painful lessons learned. And certainly there’s a time to reflect on how special this season was: the furthest the club had ever been, the first Game 7 in franchise history, and of course an MVP-caliber season from Cal Raleigh, who made history of his own.

But for now, Mariners fans are left to feel their heartbreak. Worse still, they’re left knowing this heartbreak is harder to digest when you’re a club like the Mariners. Will they be able to keep Josh Naylor? Will a promising farm system bring returns in 2026? Will they even make it this far again?

So as for what’s next, I think now the onus is on the Mariners — holding the broken hearts of fan and players — to answer with a resounding “yes.” To take a few moments to grieve, and then take a hard look at why the bottom of the Blue Jays’ lineup so drastically outperformed their own. To ensure their best performers stay here. To re-sign Josh Naylor, one of just two Mariners to hit over .300 in October (along with Raleigh). To learn from costly mistakes. And to do whatever it takes to make sure that the Mariners can finally rid themselves of the painful distinction of being the only club to never appear in a World Series.

If ever there was a moment to seize now, it’s this one: a tireless plan to do whatever it takes to keep this rare window from closing.

More from Seattle Mariners’ ALCS loss

• Mariners’ Dan Wilson backs Game 7 bullpen decision
• What They Said: Seattle Mariners after losing ALCS Game 7
• Recap: Springer’s HR lifts Blue Jays over M’s and into World Series
• Mariners’ Josh Naylor at center of unusual play in Game 7
• Called It: Polanco predicts Julio’s HR in ALCS Game 7