Blue Jays set up World Series meeting with Dodgers

The Toronto Blue Jays reached their first World Series since 1993 after beating the Seattle Mariners in the deciding game seven of the American League Championship Series.

Trailing 3-1, outfielder George Springer hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning as the only Canadian franchise in Major League Baseball (MLB) won the best-of-seven series 4-3 and will now face the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are the defending champions, in the ‘Fall Classic’.

“I’m just so happy for our team, our city, our country,” said Springer, a star of the Houston Astros team that won the 2017 World Series. “This is such an unbelievable moment.”

Springer has now hit 23 post-season home runs, the third most in history behind Manny Ramirez (29) and Jose Altuve (27).

“There’s probably not another person on planet Earth that I want up in that moment other than George Springer with his October magic,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider.

Seattle, who had led the series 2-0 and 3-2, remain the only MLB franchise never to appear in a World Series.

Mariners manager Dan Wilson said “there’s no question that it’s going to sting” following his side’s defeat at Toronto’s Rogers Centre, but praised their efforts this season.

“It’s a special team. It’s a shame that we had to come out on the wrong side of this one,” he added.

Toronto won the World Series on both previous visits in 1992 and 1993, and will host the Dodgers in game one on Friday.