SEATTLE — Postseason baseball in the MLB is all about energy. Despite the Mariners lacking some of that after a two-game skid at home, fans were brought to life in the most exhilarating way late in a pivotal Game 5 of the ALCS.
Trailing 2-1 at the end of the 7th inning, one fan told KOMO News that he wasn’t worried.
RELATED: Mariners take 3-2 lead in ALCS after dramatic 6-2 win over Blue Jays in Game 5
“Baseball is funky. When I say that, I say it because one inning can change it, one hit can change it, one base run can change it,” said Tony Zapata, while watching at the Victory Hall across the street from T-Mobile Park.
Turns out that Tony was right. It was the 8th inning. First up to the plate was the Mariners’ beloved “Big Dumper” — Cal Raleigh. And on a 2-0 pitch, he cranked a solo homerun into left field, to tie the game at 2.
Then, three batters later, the M’s found themselves with bases loaded and no outs, and Eugenio Suarez up to bat. From there, he etched one of the most historic moments into Mariners’ history. An opposite field grand slam, to put the M’s up 6-2.
“It’s awesome to be in this park tonight, with these fans,” said John Goodwin, a Mariners fan for three decades. “I’ve never heard T-Mobile park so loud, it’s so cool, man.”
The two blasts sent the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network’s equipment scrambling.
“Unbelievable for Geno to step up and do that, we were all in the corner screaming and yelling – it was the best thing ever,” said one father, who grabbed a first base from the historic night with his daughter.
The win marked the first time the Mariners had claimed three games in an ALCS. As another trident poster covered up another win on the huge countdown board, the sea of fans outside the left field gate of the park erupted into cheers.
Repeated chants of “Geno, Geno, Geno” broke out as more and more fans poured into the streets. KOMO News met one man who had been to opening day for the M’s back in 1977.
He says for 15 years he wore the same green Lacoste polo shirt to Opening Day; tonight, he dug the shirt out to summon the best vibes he could.
“Today I thought, man, I have to pull out the old shirt – for good luck – and found the shirt — so did it work? Yeah!” the man said.
The team now travels on the road to Toronto for Game 6, and Game 7 if needed.
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