Mariners win opening game of the 2025 ALCS

Bryce Miller (YouTube)

The Seattle Mariners have won the first game of the 2025 American League Championship Series. On Sunday evening at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, the Mariners beat the Blue Jays 3-1.

What we saw from Toronto was a first pitch home run in the top of the first inning, and simply nothing thereafter. The Mariners pitching staff, led by starting pitcher Bryce Miller of Mount Pleasant, Texas was simply able to shut Toronto down.

Miller had a quality start as he gave up only one earned run in six innings. He gave up three walks and two hits, to go along with three strikeouts. Of the 76 pitchers Miller threw, 52 of the pitchers were strikes.

The key hit for the Mariners came from their catcher Cal Raleigh, who has been sensational this season. Raleigh, who had 60 home runs this season to lead the Major Leagues, hit a home run in the sixth inning to tie the game at one.

Raleigh’s home run gave the Mariners significant momentum. Later in the sixth inning, Jorge Polanco had a RBI single that scored Julio Rodriguez, and put the Mariners up 2-1. Polanco also had a RBI single that scored Mariners leadoff hitter Randy Arozarena in the eighth inning.

Getting back to Miller, his outstanding outing on Sunday was unexpected. That is because he pitched poorly in the regular season as he had an earned run average of 5.68. He also gave up seven earned runs in five innings in a 9-1 Mariners loss to the Blue Jays on May 11.