TORONTO — Bryce Miller pitched six strong innings, Cal Raleigh homered and the Seattle Mariners defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 Sunday night in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series.
The Mariners took away the Blue Jays’ home-field advantage in the best-of-seven series.
George Springer hit a solo homer for the Blue Jays, one of the team’s two hits for the game.
Seattle had runners on the corners with one out in the first against Kevin Gausman (1-1) after singles by Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez. The rally was blunted when Raleigh was out at home on Jorge Polanco’s grounder to third.
Springer led off the home first with a homer to right against Miller (1-0) on a first-pitch fastball. His second homer this postseason was the first to lead off a playoff game in team history.
Gausman retired 16 in a row before Raleigh hit his second home run of this postseason with two outs in the sixth — a blast to right center on a 2-2 splitter. Rodriguez followed with a walk and Brendon Little replaced Gausman. After a wild pitch, Polanco stroked an RBI single to left.
Gausman allowed two runs, three hits and one walk with five strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.
Miller retired 13 straight before walking Addison Barger with two out in the home sixth.
Toronto’s Louis Varland pitched around a leadoff double in the seventh.
Miller allowed one run, two hits and three walks with three strikeouts in six innings before Gabe Speier took over to toss a perfect seventh.
Randy Arozarena walked to lead off the eighth against Seranthony Dominguez and stole second and third. Rodriguez walked with one out and Polanco grounded an RBI single to right.
Seattle’s Matt Brash pitched a perfect eighth and Andres Munoz a clean ninth to earn the save.
Toronto’s Myles Straw replaced Nathan Lukes in right field in the fourth inning. Lukes fouled a ball off his right knee in the first and suffered a contusion.
