A win! Two in a row now. They may never lose again.
It wasn’t a great night for Kevin Gausman. He had a few balls find holes, but he also benefited from some excellent defensive play behind him, particularly from Addison Barger and Daulton Varsho, each of whom made huge run saving catches.
The offence started hot but struggled to build on the lead as the Mariners clawed their way closer. Barger was the exception, with three doubles on the night. The last one was hit at 116.5mph, putting him 8th in the league for max exit velocity this season (Vlad remains first). They finally tacked on an insurance run in the ninth, and the pitching and D were enough to stave the Mariners off.
The offence was uncharacteristically feisty early. Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero jr. worked back to back walks to open the game. With one out, George Springer chopped an infield single down the third base line to load the bases. Addison Barger then lined a double to right to score the first two runners.
In the second, Bichette lined a two out single but the Jays weren’t able to add to the lead. The did get more in the third, though. With two away, Barger lined his second double of the night. Ernie Clement brought him home with a line single to make it 3-0, and Nathan Lukes chipped a fastball just over the fence in right centre to run the tally to five.
On the other side, Kevin Gausman had rolled through the first two innings, facing the minimum. The Mariners got on the board in the third, though. Three two-out singles made it 5-1 with runners on the corners. He escaped the jam with the help of a diving stab by Barger that robbed Julio Rodriguez of extra bases.
The next couple of innings were quiet. Gausman got some help from his defenders, especially Daulton Varsho who robbed a home run in the fifth.
Casey Legumina took over from Luis Castillo in the top of the sixth and worked a clean inning. The Mariners rallied in their half to knock Gausman out of the game as well. Three singles plated one run with one out, making it 5-2. Brendon Little came on in relief and got the second out, but then gave up a double that cut the Jays’ advantage to two.
Legumina and Little traded 1-2-3 innings in the seventh. Collin Snider pitched the eighth for Seattle. Barger hit his third double of the night, but was stranded at second base.
Yimi Garcia struggled in the home hald of the eighth. He gave up a single to Julio Rodriguez leading off, then lost the zone. Cal Raleigh walked on four pitches, and Randy Arozarena on five, loading the bases with none out. Pinch hitter Miles Mastrobuoni crushed a one hopper to first that Vlad was able to knock down and throw home to prevent a run from scoring. That break was what Garcia needed to regain his form. He struck out the next two to escape the jam and preserve the two run lead.
The ninth got off to a strange start. Tyler Heineman chased a Troy Taylor slider inside. He hit it, but his bat broke in half down by the grip and the barrel flipped up towards the stands. Heineman got caught watching the bat and didn’t notice that the ball dropped in fair up the right field line. He figured it out just in time and reached safely with a headfirst slide just ahead of the throw. After a Jonatan Clase sac bunt, Bichette followed with his second walk. Vlad lined a single to right to load the bases. Varsho hit a sac fly to left, scoring Heineman to make it 6-3.
Things stayed interesting in the bottom half. Jeff Hoffman struck out the first two Mariners batters but the second of those, J.P. Crawford, reached when the third strike got past Heineman and his throw to first was in the dirt. Hoffman recorded the second out on his third K, then got a ground out to end it.
Jays of the Day: Barger (0.203)
The Other Award: nobody!
It’s another night game tomorrow, with a 9:40 ET first pitch. Bowden Francis (2-5, 5.66) goes for the Jays, trying to right the ship after three tough starts. The Mariners are set for a bullpen game with Logan Evans (1-1, 7.20) acting as the opener.