The Blue Jays scored just four runs across the first two games of the American League Championship Series.
Things turned around in a big way on Wednesday night as the series flipped to Seattle.
The Blue Jays swatted five home runs in a 13-4 rout that saw them knock out Mariners starter George Kirby after four innings. They now trail in the series two games to one.
“No one expected us to win the division, no one expected it us to be here, and I think the guys take that to heart.” Blue Jays manager John Schneider told reporters after the game. “I said it when we left Toronto: I hope we find some slug in the air out here. Maybe we did.”
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. celebrates after hitting a home run in the fifth inning of the Blue Jays road game against the Mariners in Game 3 of the ALCS on Oct. 15, 2025. John Froschauer-Imagn ImagesVladimir Guerrero Jr. reached base five times as he finished 4-for-4 and fell a triple shy of the cycle.
The Mariners grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning on Julio Rodriguez’s two-run shot, but two innings later, the Blue Jays broke through with a five-spot in the third, kick-started by a double from Ernie Clement and a two-run homer from Andres Gimenez.
George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. each belted solo homers to center field in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively.
Kirby started the fifth inning but failed to record an out, ultimately getting charged with the first eight runs of the game.
Wednesday’s outing for Kirby could not have been any different than his stellar start in Game 5 of the ALDS against the Tigers, when he allowed one earned run over five innings to keep the Mariners in a game that they’d eventually win in 15 innings.
Toronto started the ALCS with a leadoff homer from Springer in Game 1, but had been kept in the ballpark up until Gimenez’s blast on Wednesday.
George Springer celebrates while rounding the bases after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of the Blue Jays’ road game against the Mariners in Game 3 of the ALCS. AP
Seattle manager Dan Wilson takes out George Kirby in the fifth inning of the Blue Jays’ ALCS Game 3 against the Mariners. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectTrailing 2-0 in the series heading into the night, Game 3 was a must-win for the Blue Jays, and their bats did their part. On the pitching side, Shane Bieber recovered from a shaky start to deliver six innings, striking out eight en route to the win.
“Obviously didn’t the start the way he would have wanted to, but that’s pretty much who he is,” Springer said on Bieber. “He can battle back from anything.”
Max Scherzer is slated to get the start for the Blue Jays against Luis Castillo in Game 4 on Thursday.
