UPDATE: The Seattle Mariners’ World Series aspirations have been shattered after a devastating 4-3 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series held on October 16, 2023.
Just eight outs away from their first World Series appearance, the Mariners witnessed their hopes slip away in a heart-wrenching finale. A three-run homer by George Springer in the seventh inning sealed Seattle’s fate, leaving star catcher Cal Raleigh to reflect on the crushing defeat: “I hate to use the word failure, but it’s a failure,” he stated, underscoring the team’s high expectations for the season.
Following a triumphant AL West title—their first since 2001—the Mariners entered October with dreams of championship glory. However, those dreams now remain unfulfilled, as Julio Rodríguez, center fielder for the Mariners, expressed, “Obviously, it hurts. That’s also part of the game, too.”
Seattle started the game strong. Rodríguez kicked off the scoring with a double, later crossing home on Josh Naylor‘s single. After Rodríguez’s fourth postseason homer put the Mariners ahead 2-1 in the third inning, it seemed victory was within reach. Raleigh added his 65th home run of the year in the fifth, extending the lead to 3-1. But the tide turned dramatically in the seventh.
After Mariners pitcher Bryan Woo replaced starter George Kirby, he walked Addison Barger, setting the stage for a critical moment. Eduard Bazardo was brought in by manager Dan Wilson, who later expressed no regrets over his decision. “You make your decisions, and sometimes you have to live and die with it,” Wilson stated. However, Bazardo’s pitch to Springer proved fatal, marking Springer’s 23rd career postseason homer.
The Mariners faced a daunting challenge as they failed to record a hit in the final four innings. The season came to a bitter end as Leo Rivas, Dominic Canzone, and Rodríguez struck out against reliever Jeff Hoffman in a tense ninth inning.
Reflecting on the season, Wilson, a former catcher who played for Seattle from 1994-2005, remarked, “I know this stings… It’s a special team in there. It’s a shame that we had to come out on the wrong side of this one.” This was the first time the Mariners advanced past Game 6 in their history, leaving players optimistic despite the heartache. “All of us now have had a taste of how close we can get and how good this team can be,” Wilson added.
As the Mariners grapple with this disappointment, fans and analysts alike are left wondering what the future holds. Will they regroup and come back stronger next season? The coming months will be critical for the franchise as they aim to finally secure a spot in the World Series.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Mariners’ offseason plans and upcoming changes as they look to build on this year’s remarkable journey.
