Mariners vs. Blue Jays score and live updates: Seattle retakes ALCS Game 7 lead on Julio Rodriguez HR – The New York Times

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The Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners square off in Game 7 of the ALCS, with a spot in the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on the line.
Follow along below for live updates and analysis from before first pitch to the final out and trophy presentation.
Fox's John Smoltz has a postseason history here at Rogers Centre. Back when it was SkyDome, in the 1992 World Series, Smoltz took the mound for Game 5 with the Blue Jays looking to clinch the championship at home behind Jack Morris. In a rematch of their famous clash in Game 7 the previous October — when Morris pitched for Minnesota — Smoltz beat Morris, 7-2, to force the series back to Atlanta for Game 6. The Jays won that night to clinch their first title, and Smoltz appeared in that game, too — as a pinch-runner! Smoltz was on third base, as the tying run, when Otis Nixon bunted back to Mike Timlin for the final out in the 11th inning.
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Julio Rodríguez was hitless in four career at-bats against Louis Varland.
Make that 0-5 now.
John Schneider made the obvious but right move there.
▶️ Massive for Louis Varland to retire Julio Rodriguez with a groundout to Ernie Clement. The Mariners once again don't cash in with a runner in scoring position. Seattle has to be thinking it should have a bigger lead than one run. To the bottom of the fourth we go. | Bottom 4th Mariners 2, Blue Jays 1
One midseason addition, Shane Bieber, cedes the stage for Toronto to another midseason addition, Louis Varland. He threw 55 pitches across Game 4-6.
On the FOX broadcast, John Smoltz says what we’re all thinking:
💬 “It's hard to believe we're (only) in the fourth.”
Right on cue, Schneider yanks Bieber.
There is no way he should have been allowed to pitch to Rodriguez here.
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▶️ After Shane Bieber walks Victor Robles, John Schneider comes out of the dugout. He turns to Louis Varland with Julio Rodriguez two out with runners on first and second. A tough night for Bieber, who gives up two runs and struggled to find his command. | Top 4th Mariners 2, Blue Jays 1
Alright, maybe J.P. Crawford should not have bunted.
▶️ Another good curveball from Shane Bieber. He throws an 85 mph pitch to strike out Leo Rivas, his fifth of the night. Now it is Victor Robles up with two out. | Top 4th Mariners 2, Blue Jays 1
If I was John Schneider, I don't know how much longer I would leave Shane Bieber in this baseball game.
He's already gotten hit a bit and is approaching his third time around the order.
Dangerous territory in a critical game.
▶️ J.P. Crawford with a line drive to left field, recording the 1-out double. Now it is Leo Rivas up to bat with one out and a runner on second. | Top 4th Mariners 2, Blue Jays 1
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Louis Varland, who just got up in the Blue Jays bullpen, has thrown in all but one of Toronto’s postseason games this fall. His arm may fall off, but it hasn’t yet.
Varland enters Game 7 with a 2.61 ERA in 10 1/3 innings.
▶️ Big start to the inning for Shane Bieber. Like he did with Randy Arozarena, he gets Eugenio Suarez to chase the breaking ball outside the zone. One out with J.P. Crawford up to the plate. | Top 4th Mariners 2, Blue Jays 1
George Kirby put together a 1-2-3 third inning, his first frame without traffic tonight. There was still some hard contact — Alejandro Kirk smoked a ball at J.P. Crawford for the third out — but Kirby was throwing strikes and challenging the Jays.
▶️ Just before the fourth inning begins, Louis Varland is getting up in the Blue Jays bullpen. | Top 4th Mariners 2, Blue Jays 1
The Mariners are 6-0 when they play on the same day as the Seahawks this year …
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▶️ A line drive to shortstop from Alejandro Kirk is caught by J.P. Crawford. The inning is over with no runners on the bases. Will be interesting if Seattle leans on George Kirby for the fourth or will there be a quick pull. To the fourth we go. Can Shane Bieber have a quick inning? | Top 4th Mariners 2, Blue Jays 1
▶️ George Kirby strikes out Nathan Lukes with a slider in the zone. Now the big matchup with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who is 1-for-1 tonight. But a fly out to shallow right off the first pitch gets Guerrero Jr. out. Two outs. | Bottom 3rd Mariners 2, Blue Jays 1
It's funny to think that while the Mariners play Game 7 of the ALCS, back home the Seahawks are about to host the Houston Texans on "Monday Night Football." That Game 7/MNF double-dip has a precedent: in 1986, rain pushed back Game 7 of the World Series to a Monday night. While the Mets played Boston at Shea Stadium, the Giants took on Washington at the Meadowlands. Seattle fans can only hope tonight works out as well for them as Oct. 27, 1986 did for New Yorkers: the Mets won the championship and the Giants won their game, too, 27-20… on their way to a Super Bowl title.

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