Scherzer Dominates as Blue Jays Crush Mariners, Even ALCS Series/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Max Scherzer delivered a vintage performance as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Seattle Mariners 8-2 to even the ALCS at two games each. The 41-year-old allowed just two runs in 5 2/3 innings, while Andrés Giménez drove in four runs and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his fifth postseason homer. Toronto’s offense exploded again, outscoring Seattle 21-6 in the last two games.
SEATTLE (AP) — Max Scherzer waited nearly a month for his postseason moment — and when it finally came, the veteran right-hander delivered with a fire that reminded baseball fans why he’s known as “Mad Max.”
The 41-year-old Scherzer silenced the Seattle Mariners and ignited the Toronto Blue Jays with a masterclass performance Thursday night, helping the Jays cruise to an 8-2 victory in Game 4 of the ALCS and tie the best-of-seven series at 2-2.
Sidelined with neck issues during the Division Series against the Yankees, Scherzer returned to the mound with vintage dominance, allowing just three hits and two runs over 5 2/3 innings. His fiery presence — and refusal to leave the game mid-inning — stole the spotlight, even as Andres Gimenez and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. delivered monster nights at the plate.
Making his 500th career start across the regular season and playoffs, Scherzer became the oldest pitcher to start a postseason game since Jamie Moyer in 2008.
Despite surrendering a solo homer to Josh Naylor in the second inning, Scherzer stayed composed, picked off a runner for the first time in over a decade, and struck out five. When Blue Jays manager John Schneider approached the mound in the fifth, Scherzer wasn’t having it.
Scherzer remained in and struck out Randy Arozarena with a vicious curveball, capping off his emotional outing with a glove pound and a roar of triumph.
Toronto’s bats stayed hot after a 13-run outburst in Game 3and once again, it was Andres Gimenez setting the tone. The second baseman drilled a two-run homer in the thirdgiving the Blue Jays a lead they would never relinquish. He later added a two-run single in the eighthfinishing with four RBIs on the night.
Meanwhile, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continued his dominant postseason run, launching an opposite-field home run in the seventh — his fifth of the playoffs, breaking the Blue Jays’ franchise postseason home run record previously shared with José Bautista (2015).
George Springer contributed with an RBI double and scored on a wild pitch in the fourth inning. The offense capitalized on Mariners starter Luis Castillowho allowed four runs before exiting in the third, and didn’t slow down once the bullpen took over.
After dropping the first two games at home, Toronto has outscored Seattle 21-6 in Games 3 and 4 at T-Mobile Parkcompletely flipping the tone of the series. The win also marks Scherzer’s eighth career postseason victoryand first since the 2019 World Serieswhere he helped lead the Nationals past Houston.
The Blue Jays’ momentum now shifts the pressure back onto the Mariners, who will look to bounce back at home in a pivotal Game 5 on Friday.
The ALCS continues Friday with Toronto’s Kevin Gausman, a two-time All-Star, set to face Bryce Millerwho was dominant in Game 1. Miller enters with a 2.61 ERA in two playoff startswhile Gausman carries a 1-3 record with a 4.14 ERA in 10 postseason outings.
Game 5 could prove critical, as teams winning Game 5 of a 2-2 series go on to win the best-of-seven series 71% of the time.
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