Mariners Game Recap: M’s Ride James Paxton to Victory vs. Blue Jays

The Mariners took the opening game of a critically important three-game set against the Blue Jays in Toronto on Friday night.

The Seattle Mariners squeaked out a 2-1 win on Friday night in the series opener with the Toronto Blue Jays. James Paxton (3-4, 4.18 ERA) was electric for the visiting Mariners en route to earning the win. Despite allowing just 2 runs, Marco Estrada (5-4, 2.94 ERA) was saddled with a tough luck loss for the Blue Jays. Steve Cishek was far from perfect in the ninth, but managed to shut the door in time to secure his 23rd save of the season.

James Paxton was amped up to pitch in front of his home country, and he turned in arguably the finest outing of his young career. The lanky southpaw allowed just 1 run on 3 hits across 7 innings of work. Pax-Man was in total control throughout, fanning 9 Blue Jays and walking only 1. Even for an offensive juggernaut like Toronto, it’s hard to hit a pitcher who is throwing 98 mph heat and painting the corners with his off-speed stuff.

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The Mariners got on the board early, pushing across the game’s first run in the top of the first inning. Nori Aoki led off the ballgame with a bang, ripping a line drive into the right-center field gap for a leadoff triple. After Seth Smith was plunked, Robinson Cano plated Aoki on an RBI groundout. Cano’s 61st RBI of the season gave Seattle a 1-0 lead.

Toronto knotted the game in the home half of the second inning. Ex-Mariner, Michael Saunders, has come into his own this season and he burnt his former club tonight. The 2016 All-Star took a 97 mph fastball deep to left-center field for a solo home run.

The M’s took the lead for good in the top of the fifth inning. Shawn O’Malley led off the frame with a single to right field, and he proceeded to swipe second base to put himself in scoring position. Seth Smith came through, doubling home O’Malley to give Seattle a 2-1 lead. The two-bagger was Smitty’s 200th of his career, and proved to be the pivotal moment of tonight’s contest.

Scott Servais handed the ball over to Edwin Diaz in the eighth inning. The flame throwing righty struck out the first two men he faced before inducing an inning ending groundout. Diaz is racking up strikeouts at an alarming pace. The 22-year-old leads all relievers with 44 strikeouts since his debut on June 6.

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Steve Cishek was tasked with recording the final three outs tonight for the Mariners. After retiring the first two men he faced with ease, Cishek gave the home crowd hope by walking Edwin Encarnacion and allowing a single to Troy Tulowitzki. With the tying run at second base, Cishek struck out Saunders to end the game.

With the win, the Mariners have moved to within 4.5 games of the Blue Jays in the race for the second wildcard spot in the American League.

Next: Marte to DL with Mono; Sardinas Recalled

The Seattle Mariners (49-47) will try to inch even closer on Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays (54-43). First pitch is scheduled for 10:07 am PT from the Rogers Centre. Hisashi Iwakuma (10-6, 4.01 ERA) will be on the bump for the Mariners, and R.A. Dickey (7-11, 4.11 ERA) will get the ball for the Blue Jays.