George Springer was carted off the field injured in the Blue Jays playoff game against the Mariners | Globalnews.ca

TORONTO — As veteran outfielder George Springer fell, so did the Toronto Blue Jays.

Springer was carted off the field in the eighth inning of Toronto’s dramatic 10-9 loss to the Mariners on Saturday night as Seattle won the American League’s best-of-three wildcard series in two games.

Springer was hurt tracking down a potential flyball from Mariners shortstop JP Crawford when Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette ran out of the infield to catch the same hit. They clipped each other in flat midfield and the ball fell to the ground for a double, allowing the Mariners to level the game 9-9.

“I haven’t even had a chance to watch it on video, but I think it was Bo’s elbow on George’s shoulder or head area,” said Toronto interim coach John Schneider. “I’m not entirely sure. At this point you’re still trying to navigate the rest of the game.”

Both Bichette and Springer lay on the field in apparent pain after the collision as the sell-out crowd of 47,156 at Rogers Center fell silent. Bichette finally got up, but Springer lay there, visibly shaken.

“I prayed to the baseball gods to just drop the ball and run to first base,” Crawford said of his view of the collision. “When I saw the ball go sideways and I had to pull my butt to second base.”

Teammates were checking on Springer when the Blue Jays practice staff approached him. Springer was helped to his feet by medical staff and climbed onto a trolley to be escorted off the field to a rousing ovation from the fans.

Jackie Bradley Jr. took over for Springer in midfield, but the Mariners made the biggest road comeback in Major League Baseball playoff history.

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Schneider said after the game that Springer was fine but would need further evaluation in the coming days as he also suffered from a sore right elbow for most of the season.

“He just said some nice things to his teammates, so we’ll know more in the next few days,” Schneider said after a team briefing at the Blue Jays clubhouse.

Springer did not speak to the media after the game.

Mariners manager Scott Servais said Crawford’s goal was a turning point in the game but wished Springer well after the scary injury.

“We had a big break tonight when that ball fell in front of Springer,” Servais said. “I hope he’s fine. George is a great player. I saw him in Houston for years and competed against him.