TORONTO (Interstat) — In a stunning and decisive turn of events, George Springer launched a three-run, seventh-inning home run that propelled the Toronto Blue Jays to a 4-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners in Game 7 of their American League playoff series Monday night at a raucous Rogers Centre.

The win, sealed by a dominant ninth inning from closer Jeff Hoffman, knots the best-of-seven series at 3-3 and forces a winner-take-all Game 8 on Tuesday. A crowd of 44,770 watched the 2-hour, 50-minute contest that saw the Mariners’ early lead evaporate in one swift, powerful swing.

Seattle, the visiting team, struck first and controlled the game’s tempo for the first six innings. Julio Rodríguez, the Mariners’ dynamic center fielder, set the tone immediately by lashing a double to left field on the game’s first pitch from Toronto starter Shane Bieber. Rodríguez then scored on a two-out, RBI single by Josh Naylor.

Rodríguez extended the lead in the third inning, crushing a solo home run to left-center field to make it 2-1. The Mariners added another run in the fifth when catcher Cal Raleigh connected for a solo shot of his own to right field, pushing the advantage to 3-1 and chasing Bieber from the game.

For much of the evening, Seattle’s pitching staff effectively contained the potent Toronto lineup. Starter George Kirby provided four strong innings of relief, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out three after taking over for opener Bryan Woo, who went 2 1/3 innings.

The narrative of the game, and perhaps the series, flipped dramatically in the bottom of the seventh. Facing Mariners reliever Eduard Bazardo, Addison Barger worked a leadoff walk. Isiah Kiner-Falefa followed with a single to center, moving Barger to second. Andrés Giménez then executed a perfect sacrifice bunt, advancing both runners into scoring position with one out.

That brought Springer, the veteran designated hitter, to the plate. On a 1-1 pitch from Bazardo, Springer connected, sending a towering fly ball to left-center field that cleared the wall, silencing the traveling Seattle contingent and detonating the home crowd. The three-run blast instantly transformed a 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 lead for Toronto.

The Mariners threatened to answer in their half of the seventh, loading the bases with two outs against relievers Louis Varland and Kevin Gausman via a double play and two intentional walks. But Gausman, who was credited with the win, induced a groundout from Jorge Polanco to end the threat and preserve the newfound lead.

Toronto’s bullpen, a collection of arms deployed strategically, was magnificent. After Bieber’s departure having allowed two runs on seven hits over 3 2/3 innings, Chris Bassitt, Seranthony Domínguez, Gausman and Hoffman combined for 4 1/3 innings of scoreless, one-hit baseball.

The eighth inning provided one final moment of tension for the Blue Jays. Daulton Varsho and Ernie Clement hit back-to-back singles, putting runners on the corners with nobody out. But first baseman Josh Naylor snared a sharp line drive off the bat of Addison Barger and stepped on first base to complete an unassisted double play, snuffing out the rally.

Hoffman entered for the ninth and was utterly overpowering, striking out the side in order on just 14 pitches to record his 36th save of the season and send the series to its ultimate conclusion.

The loss was charged to Bazardo, his first of the season against six wins. Gausman earned the win, improving to 12-12.

The victory improved Toronto’s season record to 101-72, while Seattle fell to 96-78. The result defied pregame expectations, as Seattle had been installed as a 1.5-run favorite, though the total combined score of seven did go over the projected over/under line of 7.5. The game also ran counter to the projection from Interstat, which gave Toronto a 53.7 percent probability to win but had forecasted a higher-scoring 7-6 final.

The two teams will now face off in a historic Game 8 on Tuesday night in Toronto, with the winner advancing to the American League Championship Series.