Three-Run Sixth Helps M’s Top Toronto
Seattle and Toronto played “I want the lead,” early, but the Blue Jays bullpen completely imploded in the sixth inning.
Mariners pitcher Justus Sheffield really struggled in the first inning, throwing over 30 pitches in the opening frame. He gave up two of his three earned runs in the first half inning.
Luckily, Sheffield settled down and worked through four innings. His finished with 4.0 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, and 3 K.
The Blue Jays struck first, and the M’s responded to tie it 2-2. Toronto took the lead back, and Seattle tied it again in the third, now at 3-3.
In the fifth, the Mariners broke through when J.P. Crawford hit his first home run since July Fourth. The Jays played tie-it-up in the sixth at 4-4, but the M’s persisted.
The bottom of the sixth was almost all Toronto mistakes to give Seattle their first “big” lead of the night.
Dee Gordon hit a double. Mallex Smith sacrificed him over, but the Jays couldn’t get Smith out. Crawford grounded out, but Smith reached second safely. Austin Nola walked. Then, Kyle Seager stepped to the plate.
Seager fought to the seventh pitch of the at-bat, and walked in the go-ahead run, 5-4. A wild pitch scored Smith, 6-4 Mariners. A walk and strikeout later, Tim Lopes stood at the plate when the second wild pitch of the inning scored Seattle’s (and the game’s) final run, 7-4 M’s.
After seeing an average of five Toronto batters per inning through six, the M’s saw four in the seventh, and faced the minimum in the final two innings.
The best moment of the night, besides the W, was rookie Jake Fraley picking up his first career hit.
Mariners win 7-4, after nearly four hours (3:51).
Winning Pitcher, (3-2) Matt Wisler: 0.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 K, 0 BB
Losing Pitcher, (4-2) Sam Gaviglio: 0.2 IP, 3 ER, 1 K, 3 BB
Save (3), Matt Magill: 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 K, 0 BB
The Mariners take on the Blue Jays again Saturday night. Pregame coverage starts at 5 p.m. on Freedom 970.
Here are the highlights from the game:
Top 1st … Justin Smoak RBI Single, 1-0 Blue Jays
Bottom 2nd … Omar Narvaez Home Run, 2-1 Blue Jays
Bottom 2nd … Dee Gordon RBI Triple, 2-2
Top 3rd … Teoscar Hernández RBI Single, 3-2 Blue Jays
Bottom 3rd … Kyle Seager RBI Double, 3-3
Bottom 5th … J.P. Crawford Home Run, 4-3 Mariners
Top 6th … Vlad Guerrero Jr. RBI Infield Single, 4-4
Bottom 6th … Seager Bases Loaded Walk, 5-4 Mariners
Bottom 6th … Wild Pitch Scores Mallex Smith, 6-4 Mariners
Bottom 6th … Wild Pitch Scores Austin Nola, 7-4 Mariners
Final Call, 7-4 Mariners Win!