🔗 Share this article

The Toronto Blue Jays earned a spot in their first championship series since the 1993 season by defeating the Seattle Mariners in the final game seven of the AL Championship Series.

Behind three runs to one, Springer smashed a three-run homer in the seventh inning, leading the only Canadian franchise in Major League Baseball to a 4-3 series triumph in the seven-game series. Next up are the Dodgers, who are the defending champions, in the upcoming Fall Classic.

"I'm thrilled for everyone here, Toronto, Canada," Springer stated, a star of the Houston Astros team that won the 2017 title. "What an unbelievable moment."

George Springer has now slugged 23 playoff homers, placing him third all-time behind Manny Ramirez (twenty-nine) and Jose Altuve (27).

"It's hard to imagine anyone else on planet Earth that I want up in that spot other than Springer with his October magic," said Blue Jays manager John Schneider.

Seattle's team, who had led the series 2-0 and 3-2, are still the one club yet to make an appearance in a championship series.

Mariners manager Dan Wilson stated "there's no question that it's going to sting" following his side's defeat at Rogers Centre, but applauded their performance throughout the year.

"It's a special team. Unfortunately that we ended up on the wrong side of the series," he remarked.

Toronto claimed the title on each of their earlier trips in 1992 and 1993, and are set to host the Dodgers in game one on Friday.