Believe it! Mariners come back from 7 down, clinch ALDS berth

Oct 8, 2022, 5:46 PM | Updated: 8:37 pm

TORONTO, ONTARIO - OCTOBER 08: George Kirby #68 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with his teammates after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in game two to win the American League Wild Card Series at Rogers Centre on October 08, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario. The Seattle Mariners defeated the Toronto Blue Jays with a score of 10 to 9. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

TORONTO, ONTARIO - OCTOBER 08: Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with Julio Rodriguez #44 after scoring the go ahead run by a double hit by Adam Frazier #26 against the Toronto Blue Jays during the ninth inning in game two of the American League Wild Card Series at Rogers Centre on October 08, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

TORONTO, ONTARIO - OCTOBER 08: George Kirby #68 of the Seattle Mariners throws a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays during the ninth inning in game two of the American League Wild Card Series at Rogers Centre on October 08, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

TORONTO, ONTARIO - OCTOBER 08: The Seattle Mariners celebrate after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in game two to win the American League Wild Card Series at Rogers Centre on October 08, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario. The Seattle Mariners defeated the Toronto Blue Jays with a score of 10 to 9. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)

TORONTO, ONTARIO - OCTOBER 08: Julio Rodriguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates on the field after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in game two to win the American League Wild Card Series at Rogers Centre on October 08, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

TORONTO, ONTARIO - OCTOBER 08: The Seattle Mariners celebrate in the locker room after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in game two to win the American League Wild Card Series at Rogers Centre on October 08, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario. The Seattle Mariners defeated the Toronto Blue Jays with a score of 10 to 9. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)

TORONTO, ONTARIO - OCTOBER 08: Julio Rodriguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with the team in the locker room after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in game two to win the American League Wild Card Series at Rogers Centre on October 08, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario. The Seattle Mariners defeated the Toronto Blue Jays with a score of 10 to 9. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)

TORONTO, ONTARIO - OCTOBER 08: Julio Rodriguez #44 and J.P. Crawford #3 of the Seattle Mariners celebrate Adam Frazier #26 RBI double to take the lead against the Toronto Blue Jays during the ninth inning in game two of the American League Wild Card Series at Rogers Centre on October 08, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

TORONTO, ONTARIO - OCTOBER 08: Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with Taylor Trammell #20 in the dugout after scoring the go ahead run by a double hit by Adam Frazier #26 against the Toronto Blue Jays during the ninth inning in game two of the American League Wild Card Series at Rogers Centre on October 08, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)

TORONTO, ONTARIO - OCTOBER 08: Mitch Haniger #17 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates after scoring on a double hit by J.P. Crawford #3 against the Toronto Blue Jays during the eighth inning in game two of the American League Wild Card Series at Rogers Centre on October 08, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)

TORONTO, ONTARIO - OCTOBER 08: J.P. Crawford #3 of the Seattle Mariners hits a three run double against Jordan Romano #68 of the Toronto Blue Jays during the eighth inning in game two of the American League Wild Card Series at Rogers Centre on October 08, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

TORONTO, ONTARIO - OCTOBER 08: Carlos Santana #41 of the Seattle Mariners doubles to center field against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fifth inning in game two of the American League Wild Card Series at Rogers Centre on October 08, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)

TORONTO, ONTARIO - OCTOBER 08: Carlos Santana #41 of the Seattle Mariners hits a three run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the sixth inning in game two of the American League Wild Card Series at Rogers Centre on October 08, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)

TORONTO, ONTARIO - OCTOBER 08: Carlos Santana #41 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates after hitting a three run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the sixth inning in game two of the American League Wild Card Series at Rogers Centre on October 08, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)

BY BRENT STECKER

Seattle Sports

It may have been over 20 years since it was last seen, but the Seattle Mariners have always had a special kind of magic in the postseason.

And they just topped themselves.

The M’s stormed back from a seven-run deficit on Saturday, tying the Blue Jays with a four-run eighth inning and taking the lead in the ninth to beat Toronto 10-9 and sweep the best-of-three American League Wild Card series.

ALWC Game 2 – Mariners 10, Blue Jays 9: Box score | Recap story & photo gallery

The win guarantees the Mariners their first home playoff game in 21 years, which will happen in Game 3 of their AL Division Series against the AL West-champion Houston Astros next Saturday. The series itself will begin Tuesday in Houston.

What a comeback. What a win. Seattle is moving on. #CLINCHED #postseason pic.twitter.com/Q8fEh7i6VK

— MLB (@MLB) October 9, 2022

Seattle’s win in Toronto is tied for the biggest comeback victory in playoff history since 1929, according to MLB’s Sarah Langs.

Mariners have no shortage of heroes in incredible sweep of Blue Jays

Despite a rough start by Seattle’s Robbie Ray and a tough matchup against Toronto pitcher Kevin Gausman, the M’s never went away and were able to put together the multiple big innings they needed for one of their trademark comeback victories. Not only that, but it was reminiscent of the Mariners coming back against the New York Yankees from down 5-0 in Game 4 of the ALDS in 1995, albeit with a bit more of the ‘chaos ball’ the current iteration has typified.

Oh, and while we’re bringing up 1995 (sorry, we know it happens a lot), Saturday’s huge win happened to come on the same date 27 years later as the Game 5 win over the Yankees on Oct. 8, 1995 – you know, the one with “the double” and Griffey beating the throw home.

But back to 2022.

Video: Highlights from Mariners’ sweep with Seattle Sports radio calls

Second baseman Adam Frazier had the big double this time – well, one of them – and he will be remembered in Mariners lore for his go-ahead hit to right field with two outs that drove in catcher Cal Raleigh, who had reached with a double of his own with one out in the ninth.

Expect the unbelievable. #EmbraceTheChaos pic.twitter.com/Zhzs8cvrS1

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) October 9, 2022

Frazier also played a part in Saturday’s rally in the eighth, where the big hit came on J.P. Crawford’s two-run double on a bloop to center that resulted in Toronto shortstop Bo Bichette and center fielder George Springer colliding with each other. Springer left the game on a cart after suffering an apparent head injury.

BRAND NEW BALLGAME. pic.twitter.com/fxoX3SqD0p

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) October 8, 2022

The comeback started in earnest with a pair of hits by switch-hitting designated hitter Carlos Santana, first a double from the left off the top of the wall that led to a run in the fifth inning, then a three-run homer from the right side in a four-run sixth.

Commence the chaos. #SeaUsRise | #EmbraceTheChaos pic.twitter.com/r1muOSF8HT

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) October 8, 2022

Seattle’s bullpen held Toronto to one run over the final four innings, allowing the offense a chance to come back, with Andrés Muñoz throwing a crucial eighth inning a night after 1 2/3 innings in a 4-0 M’s win. Rookie pitcher George Kirby, who has only started in his MLB career, came on in the ninth to earn the save.

For a full recap story and photo gallery on Saturday’s M’s win, click here.

The comeback

Here is full video of the Mariners’ comeback from MLB’s YouTube channel.

Mariners celebrate in Toronto

Here is some footage from Mariners insider Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports of the team’s celebration at Rogers Centre after the win.

The @Mariners players are back out on the field to celebrate with the fans in Toronto!

🎥 – @shannondrayer pic.twitter.com/ZxJjsZe99k

— Seattle Sports (@SeattleSports) October 9, 2022

When we say @Mariners insider @shannondrayer, we mean it. Go inside some of the celebrations after the M's punched their ticket to the ALDS. pic.twitter.com/cafi4ktiUC

— Seattle Sports (@SeattleSports) October 9, 2022

Game 1: Luis Castillo does the nearly impossible as Mariners silence Blue Jays

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