‘Grand vibes only’: U.S. media react to Blue Jays’ heartbreak and Game 5 collapse

Toronto Blue Jays now heading home on the brink of elimination after a late-inning collapse in Game 5 (LEFT: (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) RIGHT: (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

The Mariners didn’t just steal Game 5, they stole the headlines too.

With the Toronto Blue Jays now heading home on the brink of elimination after a late-inning collapse in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series (ALCS), some U.S. media aren’t holding back their praise for the Seattle Mariners.

• Recap of Blue Jays Game 5 loss to Mariners

Seattle’s five-run eighth inning quickly turned a 2-1 Blue Jays lead into a 6–2 loss Friday night, putting the Mariners just one win away from their first-ever World Series appearance.

Last night’s defeat marked a gut-punch for Toronto, as their first postseason appearance in nearly 10 years is now hanging by a thread — drawing a mix of awe and nostalgia from American commentators.

Game 6 is set for Sunday night at 8:03 p.m. ET at the Rogers Centre.

Here’s what some U.S. media are saying:

‘Grand vibes only’

Saturday’s front page of The Seattle Times sports section captured the mood in the Pacific Northwest with Eugenio Suárez embracing a roaring home crowd.

The photo splashed across the page under the bold headline “Grand Vibes Only.”

Shared by Seattle Times designer and editor Rich Boudet, it quickly made the rounds online highlighting Seattle’s rise and Toronto’s fall.

Full circle for Suárez

Retired Seattle Times columnist Larry Stone drew a nostalgic line between eras, posting a photo of Suárez celebrating on the postseason podium with his daughters in 2022, after a Wild Card win over the Blue Jays — and again three years later, in nearly the same pose.

“What a stud,” one fan wrote beneath Stone’s post, echoing the déjà vu and reaction felt across social media.

‘I bet you he just sleeps in his gear’

Former Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, speaking on Fox Sports, praised Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh for his Game 5 performance.

“How good is Cal Raleigh. He’s catching every inning, he’s hitting home runs and then he bats right hand for the first time in the series and one swing, home run, tie game,” he said.

“I bet you he just sleeps in his gear and his uniform and just shows up the next day.”

‘That’s why they went and got him,’ Ortiz says

Analyst David Ortiz highlighted Suárez’s acquisition as a decisive trade-deadline move that’s now paying off.

“That’s why they went and got him — he went and showed his swing today,” Ortiz said on Fox’s postgame panel, pointing to his leadership and power in clutch situations.

The ‘grand salami’ headline

The Athletic headline went all in on Suárez’s heroics, calling his eighth-inning blast “a grand salami.”

See full article here.

‘Late dramatics’ headline the night

Over on MLB.com, reporter Bryan Hoch led his game recap with the headline “after late dramatics, Mariners 1 win away from 1st trip to World Series.”

Hoch wrote that the Mariners “regained control of this heavyweight matchup,” a simple summation of how completive this series has been since Game 1.

See full article here.

What to know ahead of Game 6

The series now shifts back to Rogers Centre for Game 6 on Sunday, with the Blue Jays facing elimination and the Mariners looking to clinch their first-ever World Series berth.

Toronto manager John Schneider confirmed postgame that George Springer’s X-rays were negative after being hit by a pitch in the seventh inning, though his Game 6 status remains unknown.

• Springer leaves Game 5 with right knee injury

CP24 will have live coverage tomorrow from press conferences, to fan arrivals at the Rogers Centre, and score updates throughout the night.

Be sure to download the CP24 app or visit CP24.com.