Mariners Eliminate Blue Jays in Seven Games

Seattle advanced to their sixth World Series with a four games to three semi-finals playoff win over the Toronto Blue Jays.  A summary of the series:


Game 1: TOR wins 7-1.  Nelson Cruz slammed 2 homeruns and had 3 RBI and Henderson Alvarez pitched a complete game allowing 1 run while scattering 7 hits.  Felix Hernandez took the loss as he gave up 10 hits and 5 runs over 5 innings.

Game 2: SEA wins 4-0.  Jeff Samardzija fired a six hit shutout and Kirk Nieuwenhuis hit a single, double and homer while knocking in a pair.  Iwakuma takes the loss.

Game 3: TOR wins 5-2.  Garrett Richards pitched 8 strong innings by only giving up 1 earned run while fanning 9.  Justin Turner had 2 ribbies.  Seattle's Lester got knocked out in the 3rd inning as he gave up 7 hits and 4 runs over 2 2/3 innings.

Game 4: SEA wins 4-0.  Seattle's Felix Hernandez responded from his first game loss by firing a 3 hit shutout.  Pujols hit a homer, drove in 2 runs and scored 2 runs.  Blue Jays' Chris Archer takes the loss.

Game 5: SEA wins 5-3.  The Mariners take a 3-2 series lead with the win.  Jeff Samardzija won his second game of the series (3-0 1.93 ERA in the post season) by pitching 6+ strong innings.  Jose Reyes went 4 for 4.  Henderson Alvarez, who pitched a gem in game #1 of the series, got hit hard by giving up 13 hits and 5 runs.

Game 6: TOR wins 6-5 in 13 innings.  Facing elimination, Toronto's Iain Kinsler hit a dramatic walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 13th to send the series to game 7.  Seattle had a 4-1 lead going to the bottom of the 7th but their bullpen could not hold the lead.  Both teams scored a run in the 10th inning as this game was the most exciting of the series.  Toronto's strong bullpen pitched 6 innings while only giving up 1 run. 

Game 7: SEA win the final 2-1.  King Felix pitched brilliantly again as he fired a 3-hit CG while fanning 8.  Garrett Richards was the hard luck loser giving up 2 runs (1 earned) and striking out 7 over 7 2/3 innings.  The game was decided in the 8th inning.  After an out was recorded, Jose Reyes reached on an error.  One out later, Ryan Braun stepped in and he drew a walk.  Pujols then lined a single for the game winning run.