Mariners’ World Series Dreams Shatter in Heartbreaking Game 7 Loss

UPDATE: The Seattle Mariners’ World Series aspirations evaporated in a stunning 4-3 defeat to the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series on October 16, 2023. With just eight outs left, the Mariners faced a gut-wrenching loss, marking a heartbreaking end to a season filled with promise.

After clinching their first AL West title since 2001, hopes were high for the Mariners, but their dreams of a World Series appearance went unfulfilled. “I hate to use the word failure, but it’s a failure,” said 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, and that’s what we want to hold ourselves accountable to.”

The Mariners entered Toronto with a 3-2 series lead, needing just one more victory to head to the World Series for the first time in franchise history. They took an early lead in Game 7, with Julio Rodríguez doubling and scoring in the first inning. Rodríguez also hit his fourth postseason homer in the third, putting Seattle ahead 2-1, while Raleigh’s fifth postseason home run extended the lead to 3-1 in the fifth.

However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the seventh inning. After Eduard Bazardo replaced pitcher Bryan Woo, he allowed a three-run homer to George Springer, which turned the tide in favor of the Blue Jays. This pivotal moment sealed the Mariners’ fate. Manager Dan Wilson expressed no regrets about his decision to bring in Bazardo, stating, “You make your decisions, and sometimes you have to live and die with it.”

Seattle’s offense fell silent for the remainder of the game, failing to record a hit in the last four innings. The season came to a close as the Mariners struck out against Jeff Hoffman in the ninth inning, leaving players and fans devastated. “I know this stings, and there’s no question that it’s going to sting,” Wilson remarked after the game. “It’s a special team in there. It’s a shame that we had to come out on the wrong side of this one.”

As the Mariners reflect on their historic season, the emotional toll of the loss lingers. “Obviously, it hurts,” said Rodríguez. “That’s also part of the game, too.” The team, which had never advanced past Game 6 in the playoffs until this year, will now turn their focus to the future, aiming to build on their progress. Wilson noted, “All of us now have had a taste of how close we can get and how good this team can be. Once you get that, that’s what you’re shooting for again the next year, and I know that will continue to be the goal.”

As the baseball world turns its attention to the World Series, all eyes will be on how the Mariners regroup for the upcoming season. Fans and analysts alike are left wondering: what’s next for a team that came so close to breaking its championship drought?