UPDATE: In a stunning turn of events, the Seattle Mariners fell just short of their World Series dreams, losing to the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series on October 16, 2023. This defeat marks a painful conclusion to a season filled with high hopes and expectations.
With only eight outs remaining before their first-ever World Series appearance, the Mariners watched their aspirations crumble when Eduard Bazardo surrendered a critical three-run homer to George Springer in the seventh inning. “I hate to use the word failure, but it’s a failure,” expressed Mariners star Cal Raleigh. “What we expected was to get to the World Series and win a World Series. That’s what the bar is and the standard is.”
The Mariners had entered the postseason with soaring ambitions after clinching their first AL West title since 2001. However, their quest for the championship ended in heartbreak as they failed to secure a single win in the ALCS after taking a 3-1 series lead.
Seattle started strong in Game 7 with Julio Rodríguez doubling to lead off the game and scoring on a Josh Naylor single. Rodríguez later hit his fourth postseason homer, giving Seattle a 2-1 lead in the third inning. Raleigh added his fifth postseason homer, extending the lead to 3-1. But the momentum shifted dramatically in the seventh when Springer’s towering homer turned the tide.
Mariners manager Dan Wilson defended his decision to bring in Bazardo over closer Andres Muñoz, stating, “You make your decisions, and sometimes you have to live and die with it.” Unfortunately for Seattle, the decision backfired, costing them the game and the series.
After leading for much of the game, the Mariners were unable to muster a hit in the final four innings. Their season came to a disheartening end when Leo Rivas, Dominic Canzone, and Rodríguez all struck out against Jeff Hoffman in the ninth.
“I know this stings and there’s no question that it’s going to sting,” Wilson acknowledged. “It’s a shame that we had to come out on the wrong side of this one.”
This season marked a significant milestone for the Mariners, who had never advanced past Game 6 in previous playoff appearances. “All of us now have had a taste of how close we can get and how good this team can be,” Wilson added. “Once you get that, that’s what you’re shooting for again the next year.”
As the Blue Jays celebrate their first World Series berth since 1993, the Mariners must now regroup and reflect on a moment that slipped away. Fans and players alike are left wondering what the future holds for a team that came so close to reaching baseball’s pinnacle.
The Mariners’ defeat is a poignant reminder of the thin line between triumph and disappointment in sports. As they prepare for the offseason, the focus will shift to how this team can build on the progress made and finally break through to the World Series next year.
