Jorge Polanco Leads Mariners to Victory in Game 1 of ALCS

Jorge Polanco played a key role as the Seattle Mariners secured a 3-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series on Sunday night. With this win, the Mariners are now just three games away from reaching their first World Series in franchise history, gaining home-field advantage for the rest of the best-of-seven series. The game turned in the sixth inning when Cal Raleigh hit a 420-foot solo home run to tie the score, followed by Polanco’s decisive RBI single that put Seattle ahead. Blue Jays manager John Schneider brought in left-handed reliever Brendon Little to face the switch-hitting Polanco, but the move backfired as Polanco drove in the go-ahead run with a 110.7 mph single. Polanco later added another key hit in the seventh, this time batting left-handed against Seranthony Domínguez, echoing his clutch performance from the AL Division Series. Polanco’s postseason form has been exceptional, with six hits so far—five of which have driven in runs, including two home runs against Tigers ace Tarik Skubal in the ALDS. Since September 1, Polanco is batting .306 with a .951 OPS, a remarkable turnaround after knee surgery last year. His teammate Cal Raleigh praised Polanco’s resilience, saying, “He’s been kind of our heart and soul over this last month. Really happy for him that he’s healthy and playing every day.” The Mariners’ playoff run has been fueled by timely hitting and strong pitching. Their staff leads the remaining postseason field with a 2.95 ERA and has limited opponents to a .567 OPS. Sunday’s game also highlighted Raleigh’s power in Toronto—his ninth home run in 14 career games at Rogers Centre, setting a record for the most by any player in their first 14 games at the venue. Jorge Polanco, a veteran infielder now in his twelfth MLB season, joined Seattle in 2024 after being traded from the Minnesota Twins. Over his career, he has accumulated 1,063 hits and 154 home runs, maintaining a .263 batting average. This season, he contributed 125 hits, 26 home runs, and a .265 average. Polanco has played both shortstop and second base, providing versatility and leadership to his teams.

For more on Polanco’s career stats and background, visit his Baseball-Reference profile and follow him on Instagram (@jorge_polanco05). For live updates and game highlights, check his ESPN player page.