The Toronto Blue Jays struggled to solve Seattle Mariners starter George Kirby on Monday.
Still, the Mariners removed Kirby from the game after only four innings of one-run ball in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series.
Fellow starter Bryan Woo entered the game to start the fifth after Kirby allowed four hits, struck out three batters and walked one.
The six-foot-four right-hander appeared to be airing it out, averaging an extra 1.5 m.p.h. on his four-seam fastball and 1.3 m.p.h. on his sinker.
Despite Kirby's success navigating the Blue Jays' order — including a steady diet of inside fastballs to jam George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. — he didn't see Toronto's order a third time through.
The Blue Jays found the most success against Kirby in the first inning when Daulton Varsho drove in Springer from third after a leadoff walk and Guerrero single. With runners on the corners, Ernie Clement hit a 101.6 m.p.h line drive to Mariners centre fielder Julio Rodriguez to end the threat.
Woo walked Andrés Giménez to lead off the fifth, but struck out Springer and induced a ground-ball double play to end the inning.
Kirby started Game 3 of the ALCS and allowed eight runs on eight hits and two walks over four innings. He also gave up three home runs as Giménez, Springer and Guerrero all smashed pivotal shots in the 13-4 win.
Monday's decisive ballgame is the second Game 7 in Blue Jays history. Their first came 40 years ago in 1985, where they were also flummoxed over three innings by Kansas City Royals starter Bret Saberhagen in what was ultimately a 6-2 loss.
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