Vladimir Guerrero Jr. admitted to praying in the tunnel before George Springer hit a game-clinching three-run homer to send the Toronto Blue Jays to the World Series.
Springer’s shot to left field in the seventh inning gave the Blue Jays a 4–3 lead that they would not relinquish in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners.
This victory sets up a World Series game with the Los Angeles Dodgers. It will be the first time since winning back-to-back titles in 1993 that the Blue Jays have played in a World Series.
Montreal-born Guerrero was named ALCS MVP and was emotional as he looked forward to helping Canada’s only MLB team return to the biggest stage.
Asked how he reacted when Springer sent them ahead, Guerrero said in a postgame press conference: “I mean, it was very emotional when I saw George hit the home run, but the most important thing I did was right before that inning, I went down the tunnel, got down on my knees and asked God for victory, to bless us, and he did, and then George hit the home run. So it was great.
“I was born here. I grew up in the Dominican Republic, and then from the moment I signed here, I knew I was going to be here my whole career, I knew I had to do – somehow, make all the fans, the whole country, proud of me, of my team.
“And like I always say, my challenge is to bring the World Series back here to Canada.”
The Blue Jays will be underdogs against the defending champions, with the Dodgers’ star roster led by two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani.
Ohtani produced arguably the greatest postseason performance of all time in Game 4 of the NLCS as the Dodgers swept the Milwaukee Brewers.
This game saw Ohtani pitch six scoreless innings, strike out ten batters, and hit three home runs.
But Guerrero is not intimidated by the task that awaits him in front of Toronto.
“I mean, for me, every match is a challenge, every series is a challenge,” he added.
“I know they have great players. We do too. But on the pitch, that’s when everything counts.”
