Imagine a playoff game where the underdog team, written off by many, suddenly explodes for five home runs and a stunning comeback victory. That's exactly what happened on October 15, 2025, when the Toronto Blue Jays roared back to life against the Seattle Mariners, narrowing their ALCS deficit to 2-1 with a dominating 13-4 win. But here's where it gets controversial: was this a case of the Blue Jays finally finding their rhythm, or did the Mariners simply crumble under the pressure of a potential sweep?
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer were the catalysts, igniting Toronto's offense after a sluggish start. Guerrero, who had gone 0 for 7 in the first two games, erupted with four hits, falling just a triple shy of the cycle. Springer, meanwhile, tied Bernie Williams for fourth on the all-time postseason home run list with his 22nd career blast.
The Mariners initially looked poised to take a commanding 3-0 series lead when Julio Rodríguez launched a two-run homer in the first inning off Shane Bieber. And this is the part most people miss: despite the early deficit, the Blue Jays never wavered. Andrés Giménez sparked the comeback with a game-tying, two-run homer in the third inning, part of a five-run outburst that shifted the momentum decisively in Toronto's favor.
The Blue Jays' power display was historic, with Guerrero, Springer, Alejandro Kirk, and Addison Barger all going deep. Their five home runs totaled an astonishing 2,004 feet, and their 18 hits marked a season-high for the team. Kirk, in particular, continued his dominance at T-Mobile Park, where he's hitting .413 with eight RBIs in 14 games.
Bieber, after a rocky first inning, settled in to deliver a shutout performance over the next five frames, earning the win and providing the Blue Jays with their longest postseason start in seven games. “Obviously, he didn’t start the way he would have wanted to, but that’s pretty much who he is,” Springer said. “He can battle back from anything.”
The Mariners, meanwhile, struggled to contain Toronto's offense. Starter George Kirby allowed eight runs on eight hits and two walks, with all eight hits coming on the first three pitches of each at-bat. “The first couple innings I thought he was dynamite,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “This is a team that’s going to hurt you if you make mistakes on the plate. It looked like there were a couple that they were able to get to.”
The game also featured a postseason record-tying eight combined home runs, matching the mark set in 2015 and 2017. Randy Arozarena and Cal Raleigh added late homers for Seattle, but by then, the outcome was all but decided.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider praised his team's resilience: “No one expected us to win the division, no one expected us to be here, and I think the guys take that to heart. I said it when we left Toronto: I hope we find some slug in the air out here. Maybe we did.”
With the series shifting back to Seattle for Game 4, the Mariners will turn to RHP Luis Castillo, who will face off against the veteran RHP Max Scherzer. Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, is seeking his first postseason win since the 2019 World Series opener.
Here’s the question that’s sure to spark debate: Can the Mariners regroup and reclaim control of the series, or have the Blue Jays seized the momentum for good? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
