The Toronto Blue Jays needed to bounce back — and that they did.

Toronto stormed back Wednesday night in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series with a barrage of home runs that led to a dominant 13-4 victory over the Mariners, cutting Seattle’s series lead to 2-1 after the Blue Jays dropped the first two games at home.

How did Toronto win its first game of the ALCS? We’ve got you covered with the top moments, takeaways and a look at where the series goes from here.

Key links: How Vlad Jr., Jays bet on each other | LCS update | Bracket

Takeaways

Seattle leads series 2-1

It was over when … Even after the Blue Jays’ five-run outburst off George Kirby in the third inning, there was at least hope for a Seattle comeback. Then, George Springer delivered a two-out exclamation point in the fourth inning with a 431-foot home run to center field and followed by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. delivering a second exclamation point in the fifth inning with another blast to center. The Jays’ bats are back. — David Schoenfield

Game 3 star: After surrendering a two-run homer to Julio Rodriguez in the first inning, Blue Jays starter Shane Bieber simplified his pitch mix and leaned into his slider, shutting out the Mariners in the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings, as Toronto went on to build an insurmountable lead. — Buster Olney

The stat that defined Game 3: The Blue Jays are the third team in MLB history in a single postseason to score 10-plus runs in three games before the World Series, per ESPN Research.

What it means going for the rest of the series: When Rodriguez blistered his 112.2 mph home run in the first inning, it seemed like the Jays were on the verge of being wiped out in this series. But now they are back in the fight, with 41-year-old Max Scherzer lined up to make his 31st postseason appearance to face the Mariners’ Luis Castillo.

Top moments

Toronto gets much-needed Game 3 win behind home run barrage

The local boy – Addison Barger – homers in front of his family and friends! #WANTITALL pic.twitter.com/qiPWbGiquA

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) October 16, 2025

Seattle goes back-to-back in the 8th for first runs since 1st inning

Randy Arozarena and Cal Raleigh go back-to-back!

(MLB x @CitizenWatchUS) pic.twitter.com/sOzVyH0Cvo

— MLB (@MLB) October 16, 2025

It’s raining homers! Alejandro Kirk‘s 3-run mash makes it 12-2

KIRK’S TURN! #WANTITALL pic.twitter.com/wv6UXOcHrU

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) October 16, 2025

Vlad Jr. adds home run as Jays pile on

VLADIMIR GUERRERO JR. WITH A BLAST OF HIS OWN! #ALCS pic.twitter.com/cSLgLywe1V

— MLB (@MLB) October 16, 2025

Daulton Varsho‘s 2-RBI double caps off 5-run inning for Toronto

Daulton Varsho makes it a 5-run inning for the @BlueJays! pic.twitter.com/lbrDBbr4ei

— MLB (@MLB) October 16, 2025

Blue Jays answer with their own blast — and now we’re tied

Andrés Giménez ties the game! #ALCS pic.twitter.com/drtdQh8gQ1

— MLB (@MLB) October 16, 2025

J-Rod hits 2-run home run to give M’s early lead

JULIO RODRÍGUEZ 2-RUN BLAST! #ALCS pic.twitter.com/olXcF7mzh4

— MLB (@MLB) October 16, 2025

Josh Naylor rocking a vintage KD jersey ahead of Game 3

Good luck @Mariners…good throwback Josh https://t.co/26FrDN4UNO

— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) October 15, 2025

The government shutdown is more than two weeks old, and an MLB star turned congressional candidate is pointing the finger at Democrats on Capitol Hill.

Mark Teixeira, who launched his campaign for Texas’ 21st Congressional District in August, said the “craziness we’ve seen on the left” has set “a terrible precedent” as the government shutdown continues.

The former Texas Ranger, Atlanta Brave, and New York Yankee said the Democrats are not doing “their job” and should be willing to negotiate.

“Elections have consequences. The losing side of an election knows that they’re not going to get everything they want every time a bill is passed, or a budget is passed. So you have to accept that maybe you’re not going to get your way,” Teixeira told Will Cain on Wednesday. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM 

“The Democrats are saying, ‘No, we don’t accept that. We’re just going to shut the government down, and we’re going to make Americans, we’re going to make military pay for us complaining that we’re not getting our way.”

Mark Teixeira #25 of the National League looks on during pregame ceremonies prior to the 2024 All-Star Futures Game at Globe Life Field on Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.  (Sam Hodde/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

BOSTON MAYOR RESPONDS TO TRUMP’S THREATS TO PULL WORLD CUP GAMES OUT OF CITY AMID SAFETY CONCERNS

Cain showed a Reuters/Ipsos poll that indicated 67% of voters blame Republicans for the shutdown, and 63% also blamed Democrats and 63% blamed President Donald Trump. But Teixeira said he does not “trust polls,” adding that there is still “Trump derangement syndrome” among those blaming conservatives.

“As long as there are Democrats and there are people out there that say everything Republicans do is bad, even if it’s reasonable. This is reasonable. Hey listen, you want to negotiate on some things? Alright, give us a few weeks. We’ll negotiate. But don’t shut the government down and hold the American worker, the American military personnel hostage because you haven’t gotten your way up to this point,” Teixeira said.

“I understand that a lot doesn’t get passed when you don’t have big majorities, and we have to work across the aisle every now and then. But we’re not going to negotiate with terrorists. We’re not going to negotiate with a party that says ‘if we don’t get our way, if we don’t change the rules, then I’m going to close the government down.’ That’s not fair to the American people, it’s not fair to all the Republicans that are trying to do this the right way and (saying) ‘Just give us a few more weeks to negotiate.’ 

Mark Teixeira playing for the Texas Rangers. (Tom Szczerbowski/USA TODAY Sports)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“I just believe Democrats are being unreasonable.”

In an X post earlier this month, Teixeira said, “Democrats are destroying our country, and President Trump needs reinforcements who will fight to take our country back.”

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — As he looked ahead to next season on Wednesday, Oklahoma coach Porter Moser reflected on the life of one of his favorite people: Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, who died last week at the age of 106.

Moser said he’ll miss his friend.

“My heart is sad,” said Moser, who planned to fly to Chicago after SEC media day for Sister Jean’s funeral mass Thursday. “It’s also joy and gratitude that she was in my life. I vibe with energetic, positive people. I’ll never meet someone who had such a positive attitude and poured that attitude into other people more than Sister Jean. And I was blessed to be her friend.”

Sister Jean became a national icon as she supported Moser and his Loyola-Chicago squad during their run to the Final Four in 2018. While her basketball passion made her famous and drew the attention of celebrities and politicians, including former President Joe Biden, who once sent her flowers, she endeared herself to the campus community that loved her.

Moser said he was always stunned by Sister Jean’s independence. Although she was in a wheelchair during packed news conferences and nationally televised interviews during her favorite team’s miraculous NCAA tournament run seven years ago, Moser remembers her moving around Loyola-Chicago’s campus in her favorite sneakers.

“She was always running around in her Nike shoes,” Porter said. “On the back of them, one said ‘Sister’ and the back of the other shoe said ‘Jean.'”

Sister Jean lived at the dorms with the students at 98 years old, he said. And one night, Moser was walking out of a parking garage after late-night recruiting calls when he saw her walking toward the dorms at 8:30 p.m. on a cold Chicago night. He offered her a ride, but she refused.

“She lived in the dorms by herself,” he said. “Self-sufficient. Now think about that. She’s 98, by herself, living in the dorm for the students. I said, ‘Sister Jean, jump in. I’ll take you across the street to the dorm.’ She’s like, ‘No, no. This is great for me.’ It had to be 10 degrees.”

Those who knew Sister Jean also understood that her passion for basketball was real, he said. She didn’t like to be bothered when she was watching games and would hush anyone who disrupted her viewing experience.

“I remember her being such a basketball fan,” Moser said. “She loved my kids, but I remember she sat behind my kids at a game, and she shushed my kids. They were making noise and she’s like, ‘Sshhh, I’m trying to watch the game.'”

But her warmth, humility and kindness toward others, Porter said, will be his lasting memory of her. Sister Jean, who had been with Loyola-Chicago basketball since 1991, would pray for the Ramblers and their opponents. She would also cheer for Moser’s players and give them pregame pep talks.

Moser said he and Sister Jean stayed in touch even after he left for Oklahoma in 2021.

He attended her 105th and 106th birthday celebrations in Chicago, too.

As he prepared to fly to Chicago for Thursday’s ceremony, he said he’s confident about one thing: There will never be another person like Sister Jean.

“She meant everything to all of us before she became, in her words, the international star — not just a national star,” Moser said.