Mariners stars showed they were ready for biggest stage, even if it came in a loss

TORONTO — For six innings, it was lining up to be a night to remember for the core pieces of what the Mariners hope is several long playoff runs carrying them over the final obstacle that has eluded them for 48 seasons.

Julio Rodríguez and Cal Raleigh, George Kirby and Bryan Woo. Three draft picks and the most important international free agent signing by the ballclub, all who came up through the Mariners system and were on display in the most important game in franchise history. They were essential pieces to what the Mariners accomplished this season and significant to what the franchise hopes will continue into the future.

So, it felt appropriate that all four had a major role in taking the Mariners to the cusp of victory in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series. It feels hollow in the aftermath but there is something to be said for the best players showing up on the biggest stage, even if the ending was an unbearably painful 4-3 loss to Toronto and watching the Blue Jays celebrate.

"We've all been dreaming for this moment for a long time, and just Game 7, that close a loss is really tough," Kirby said.

The longest season in Mariners history ended after 174 games on Monday night in the most painful fashion possible. Nine outs from the first World Series in franchise history, it all fell apart in the span of three batters and one swing from George Springer that will never be forgotten north of the 49th parallel, or on the northern side of Lake Ontario.

The conclusion was a gut-punch the likes of Mariners baseball has never experienced. A rather famous quote from TV reminds us that "it's the hope that kills you," and trying to find any sort of bright side coming out of a loss like that is hollow because it's hard to find anything bright after being floored in that fashion.

But there is hope for what the Mariners future could be and it was highlighted by who showed up in Game 7.

Rodríguez was the catalyst the M's needed. After going hitless in his first two games of the ALCS back in the leadoff spot, Rodriguez doubled on the second pitch of the game and scored after Josh Naylor's RBI single.

In the third inning, he added his fourth home run of the postseason when Toronto starter Shane Bieber left a slider hanging.

"When I was a kid in Loma de Cabrera I never really thought, ever, that I was going to be able to get this far in this sport. And to be able to hit a home run in Game 7 in the sport that I love, that I grew up playing, it was very special," Rodríguez said.

Raleigh added one final trot around the bases after homering off Louis Varland in the fifth inning to give the M's a 3-1 lead. It was his fifth homer of the postseason and 65th for the entire season.

And it felt like it might be enough because of the performance Kirby turned in. Kirby had a shaky first inning, in part due to adrenaline, but recovered to throw four innings and allowed only one run, and a lively debate could be made that he deserved one more inning on the mound with how he got better as the game progressed.

Three times now, Kirby has started an elimination playoff game. In those three starts, he's thrown 16 innings and allowed two earned runs.

"It was exactly what we needed. I wish I settled in that first inning a little more but after that, kind of felt much better, was able to kind of relax a little bit and kind of just be more loose," Kirby said. "I'm just glad I was able to keep them from getting on base the last couple of innings and get out with the team in the lead."

Woo was the piggyback to Kirby's start and pitched for just the second time in a month after suffering a pectoral strain on Sept. 19 pitching in Houston. He was able to work through two innings with the help of a couple of strikeouts and a key double play from J.P. Crawford.

But it was the decision to stay with Woo for the seventh that backfired. He opened the inning with a walk and gave up a single on an 0-2 pitch. Eventually Eduard Bazardo took over, and the rest is history Mariners fans will try to forget.

"I'm glad I was able to come back. Wish I was able to play a bigger role and help the team more than I did," Woo said. "But sports it's not always a happy ending and, you know, do what you can to make a positive impact in any way you can."

Raleigh is the one who sets the standard in the clubhouse so the fact he called it a failure not to reach the World Series and cash in on this opportunity immediately sets the expectation moving forward. This group got a taste for the pressures of October.

"I hate to use the word failure, but it's a failure. That's what we expected was to get to the World Series and win a World Series," Raleigh said. "That's what the bar is and the standard is, and that's what we want to hold ourselves accountable to."