SEATTLE -- The stuff might not have been vintage Max Scherzer , the three-time Cy Young Award winner and future Hall of Famer who once possessed one of the best fastballs in the game, but the 41-year-old has accumulated a wealth of pitching knowledge during his 18 seasons and more than 3,000 innings in the majors.

Most importantly: The vintage Scherzer intensity remains unmatched.

Scherzer, making his first start of the postseason after a difficult end to the regular season, gave up two runs and three hits over 5⅔ innings to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to an 8-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night to even the American League Championship Series at 2-2.

Scherzer's famous ferocity was on display in the fifth inning, when manager John Schneider came out for a visit w

See Full Page