The Seattle Mariners made it as far as they’ve ever been in October. But their postseason dreams have ended short of the franchise’s first World Series.

In Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, the Mariners went up against the Blue Jays in front of an imposing Rogers Centre crowd. And while Seattle spent most of the game in the lead, it was Toronto that had the big hit when it mattered most.

Toronto Blue Jays 4, Seattle Mariners 3: Recap | Box score

Longtime Mariners nemesis and legendary postseason performer George Springer delivered the blow that Seattle fans will have a hard time forgetting, blasting a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to turn a two-run M’s lead into a 4-3 Blue Jays advantage.

GEORGE SPRINGER
THREE-RUN SHOT
BLUE JAYS LEAD 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Qh7qwqYpRx

— MLB (@MLB) October 21, 2025

Springer’s homer came after 2025 All-Star Bryan Woo, in just his second career relief appearance, allowed two baserunners to begin the inning. After Blue Jays shortstop Andrés Giménez laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners into scoring position, Mariners manager Dan Wilson made the call for Eduard Bazardo to come out of the bullpen and face Springer, Toronto’s leadoff hitter.

Bazardo, who pitched in nine of Seattle’s 12 postseason games, left a 1-0 sinker middle-in to Springer. And Springer didn’t miss, sending it 381 feet into the seats beyond left field.

The Mariners’ recent postseason history has been littered with issues right after going to the bullpen in a key spot against a power threat. There was the Yordan Alvarez home run for the Astros in the 2022 AL Division Series off of Robbie Ray. The Detroit Tigers’ Kerry Carpenter had a big home run off of reliever Gabe Speier in Game 5 of this year’s ALDS, though the Mariners ended up winning that one in 15 innings.

And now there’s Springer off of Bazardo.

Monday was the first Game 7 in the 49 seasons of Mariners history. And it was just the second game the Mariners had ever played where if they won, they’d have made it to the World Series. The first was Game 6 on Sunday, which Toronto won 6-2 to stave off elimination.

The Blue Jays weren’t satisfied with just staying alive. They’re going back to the World Series for the first time since their back-to-back titles in 1992 and 1993.

The Mariners, meanwhile, remain the only franchise in MLB to never reach the World Series.

More from Seattle Mariners’ ALCS loss

• Mariners’ Dan Wilson backs Game 7 bullpen decision
• What They Said: Seattle Mariners after losing ALCS Game 7
• Stacy Rost: What to point to from Mariners’ Game 7 loss
• Mariners’ Josh Naylor at center of unusual play in Game 7
• Called It: Polanco predicts Julio’s HR in ALCS Game 7