Blue Jays eighth inning meltdown brings bad memories of previous ALCS failures

After the buzz and excitement was taken out early losing the first two games of the 2025 ALCS, the Toronto Blue Jays showed some resiliency by winning Game 3 and Game 4 to even the series 2-2. A best-of-seven turned into a best-of-three.

Heading into Seattle for Game 5, the Blue Jays' ace Kevin Gausman would be on the mound. Gausman delivered with another quality postseason outing, throwing 5.2 innings, allowing just three hits and one run, while striking out four.

Momentum was on the Blue Jays' side heading into the bottom of the eighth inning with the Blue Jays trying protecting a 2-1 lead. Then, it all went South.

Bottom of the eighth may be the turning point in ALCS

Blue Jays manager John Schneider started off the bottom of the eighth inning with Brendon Little pitching. It took one batter for the inning to go ugly when Cal Raleigh hit a lead-off home run to tie the game.

After Raleigh's home run, Little walked Jorge Polanco and Josh Naylor. Little was then pulled for Seranthony Dominguez. Dominguez hit Randy Arozarena to load the bases for Eugenio Suárez.

Suárez took a swing that will give Blue Jays fans nightmares, as he hit a grand slam to put the Mariners up 6-2. In laughable fashion, Dominguez retired the next three batters he faced to get out of the inning, then the Blue Jays went down in order in the top of the ninth inning to lose the game.

Putting Little in to start the eighth inning is a questionable decision by Schneider, one that many Blue Jays fans were quick to express their displeasure with on social media. Especially since Schneider had closer Jeff Hoffman ready to go. Hoffman was asked to pitch the eighth inning against the heart of the order in Game 4 and he set them down 1-2-3.

The way the inning unfolded is reminiscent of another game that haunts Blue Jays fans, Game 6 of the 2015 ALCS against the Kansas City Royals. José Bautista hit a two-run home run to tie the game 3-3 in the top of the eighth, but the Royals regained the lead the next half inning to and went on to clinch the pennant. Giving up a late lead against the Mariners in Game 5 doesn't lose the series for Toronto, but it puts them one game away from elimination.

Now, the Blue Jays must win Game 6 in Toronto to force a Game 7 and the Blue Jays will be relying on their young phenom in Trey Yesavage to get the job done.