SEATTLE (Interstat) — Eugenio Suárez launched a go-ahead grand slam in a five-run eighth inning, propelling the Seattle Mariners to a 6-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night in a pivotal Game 5 of their American League Division Series.

A sold-out crowd of 46,758 at T-Mobile Park watched the Mariners seize a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series, moving within one win of advancing to the American League Championship Series.

The game was a tense, back-and-forth pitchers’ duel for seven innings before exploding in the bottom of the eighth. Toronto reliever Brendon Little, who was charged with the loss, surrendered a leadoff, game-tying solo home run to Cal Raleigh. Little then walked Jorge Polanco and Josh Naylor before hitting Randy Arozarena with a pitch to load the bases.

Louis Varland was summoned from the bullpen to face Suárez, who promptly sent a 1-1 pitch deep over the right-field fence for a decisive grand slam, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. The Mariners recorded just five hits in the game, but two were the critical eighth-inning homers from Raleigh and Suárez.

The comeback made a winner of Seattle reliever Gabe Speier, who improved to 5-4. Little fell to 4-3 with the loss.

For most of the night, the game belonged to the starting pitchers. Seattle’s Bryce Miller and a trio of relievers effectively limited a Toronto offense that had exploded for 21 runs in the previous two games. The Blue Jays collected seven hits but repeatedly squandered scoring opportunities, most notably in the fourth inning when they loaded the bases with no outs but hit into an inning-ending double play.

Toronto’s Kevin Gausman was equally sharp, holding the Mariners to one run on three hits over five innings before turning the game over to the bullpen.

Seattle struck first in the second inning on a solo home run by Suárez, his second of the postseason.

The Blue Jays methodically clawed back, tying the game in the fifth inning. Addison Barger singled, advanced to second on a groundout, and scored on a double by George Springer. Toronto took a 2-1 lead in the sixth when Alejandro Kirk doubled and scored on a single by Ernie Clement.

The one-run lead held until the fateful eighth inning, when Seattle’s offense erupted to take commanding control of both the game and the series.

The victory improved Seattle’s season record to 96-76, while Toronto fell to 99-72.

The series now shifts back to Toronto for Game 6 on Sunday. The Mariners will have their first opportunity to clinch the series, while the Blue Jays will be fighting to force a decisive Game 7 on Monday. The result defied pregame projections, as Toronto was installed as a 1.5-run favorite, and the total of eight runs went over the betting line of 7.5.