The Seattle Mariners walked into Rogers Centre on Sunday night and came out with a win in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series against the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Blue Jays jumped out to an early lead thanks to a leadoff home run from George Springer, but then Mariner's starter Bryce Miller settled in and delivered six strong innings.
In the top of the sixth, the Mariners finally got to Blue Jays' starter Kevin Gausman, and put up two runs to take the lead. The go-ahead run was driven in by Jorge Polanco, who's come up clutch time and time again this postseason.
Jorge Polanco continues clutch postseason
Gausman was cruising through the first five-plus innings of the game until Cal Raleigh came up for his third at-bat of the game.
The MVP-contending catcher connected with a splitter and sent it over the right field wall to even the game at 1-1. However, then Julio Rodriguez drew a two-out walk and made his way into scoring position.
That's when Polanco came to plate with the go-ahead run on second base and two outs in the inning.
JORGE POLANCO IS SO CLUTCH LETS GOOO
— SleeperMariners (@SleeperMariners) October 13, 2025
pic.twitter.com/PYze5i6ZsK
The Mariners' second baseman hit an RBI-single to left field and put the Mariners up 2-1 in the sixth inning.
However, he wasn't done for the night after that. Polanco came up to bat in the eighth inning with the score still 2-1, and runners on first and third with one out.
The 12-year MLB veteran came through with another RBI-single with a ground ball that got through the right side of the infield to give the Mariners an insurance run.
Jorge Polanco delivers again! pic.twitter.com/7qX1cL6JJo
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 13, 2025
That was all Seattle needed to steal Game 1 of the ALCS in Toronto.
Polanco came through with big hits on Sunday just as he has all postseason. The Marienrs second baseman only has six hits in the playoffs and is hitting .231. However, five of those six hits are two home runs off of Tarik Skubal, a walk-off single to win the ALDS and his two RBI-singles on Sunday night.
Jorge Polanco has the single MOST CLUTCH hitter in 2025
— Marine Layer Podcast (@MarineLayerPod) October 13, 2025
*Per “Clutch Factor” on FanGraphs*
1). JORGE POLANCO
2). Freddie Freeman
3). Bo Bichette
4). Gunnar Henderson
DOES IT SHOCK YOU THAT HE JUST GAVE THE MARINERS A GAME 1 LEAD??? pic.twitter.com/JyynXCUKPR
The veteran may not be collecting all the hits this postseason, but when his team needs it, Polanco has delivered. Now, he has the Mariners up 1-0 in the ALCS with a chance to go up 2-0 heading back home to Seattle.