Outpoll | Toronto Blue Jays bury Seattle Mariners: 5 takeaways from Game 3 of ALCS

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Toronto Blue Jays bury Seattle Mariners: 5 takeaways from Game 3 of ALCS

Toronto Blue Jays bury Seattle Mariners: 5 takeaways from Game 3 of ALCS

21 hours ago7 min read4 comments

Man, that one got ugly in a hurry, didn't it? Just when you thought the Seattle Mariners were about to pull off the ultimate Cinderella story, cruising with a 2-0 series lead after stunning the Blue Jays in their own house, Toronto’s bats decided to show up to the party at T-Mobile Park and absolutely wreck the place. It was one of those nights where you could see the momentum shift in real-time, like when your favorite team in a video game suddenly can’t make a stop.Seattle jumped out early, riding the high of Julio Rodriguez launching a two-run shot in the first inning that had the whole city buzzing, thinking maybe, just maybe, this was the year the magic wouldn’t run out. But let’s be real—did anyone actually think it was going to be that easy? This is the Mariners we’re talking about, the same squad that put us through the emotional wringer in that epic 15-inning Game 5 against Detroit in the ALDS.They don’t do straightforward; they thrive on chaos, and Wednesday night was a masterclass in how quickly a series can flip. George Kirby, Seattle’s starter, came out firing with the T-Mobile crowd behind him, but things fell apart faster than a poorly built IKEA desk in the third inning.He gave up a game-tying two-run homer to Andres Gimenez, and from there, it was like watching a domino effect—a wild pitch let another run score, then Daulton Varsho smashed a two-run double off the wall, and suddenly, the Jays were in control. Kirby’s final line was brutal: 4 innings, 8 earned runs, and three homers allowed.It’s the kind of stat line that makes you wince, like seeing your fantasy pitcher get lit up, except this is the ALCS, and the stakes are infinitely higher. Meanwhile, Toronto’s lineup wasn’t just scraping by; they were putting on a home run derby, racking up five bombs in total, including a 431-foot missile from George Springer that tied him for fourth all-time in postseason homers.It was a reminder that this Jays team, which pummeled the Yankees in the ALDS, has too much firepower to stay quiet for long. On the bright side for Seattle, Julio’s early blast and some garbage-time homers from Randy Arozarena and Cal Raleigh showed there’s still fight in this team, but if they’re going to bounce back, they’ll need more than just flashes.And hey, at least the fans showed up—no Canadian takeover this time, with Mariners faithful holding down T-Mobile Park, which is a small win in a night full of Ls. But with the series now 2-1, it’s all about how Seattle responds in Game 4; do they fold, or do they dig deep and remind everyone why they’re here? Buckle up, because this is far from over.