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 The Blue Jays pounded out 16 hits -- including three home runs
and a bases-loaded triple -- to defeat the Seattle Marines 14-4 in
the opener of a four-game series.
"You try to do that every night, but it's not that easy," Blue Jays
manager John Gibbons said.
The Mariners (83-73) took their third loss in a row and fell two
games behind the Royals in the race for the second American League
wild card. The Oakland A's lead Kansas City by one game for the
first wild card.
Toronto left-hander J.A. Happ pitched seven innings and Danny
Valencia drove in three runs with a first-inning triple for the Blue
Jays, who scored only 18 runs on their trip to Baltimore and New
York.
The Blue Jays (79-77) got homers from right fielder Jose Bautista,
left fielder Kevin Pillar and center fielder Anthony Gose.
Toronto chased Mariners left-hander James Paxton (6-4) in a five-run
third. Paxton, who is from Ladner, British Columbia, allowed seven
hits, six walks and nine runs (eight earned) in 2 2/3 innings in his
first major league start in Canada.
"I just didn't have a good feel for it tonight," Paxton said. "I
felt like I was all over the place. When I was in the strike zone,
it was the heart of the plate and they were hitting the ball hard. I
think I probably just wanted it a bit too much. My stuff didn't feel
great tonight. I didn't have a good feel for anything."
Gibbons said, "I thought we had a really good approach at the plate
and made Paxton work. We got some big hits. We haven't had a laugher
in a good while. I can't remember the last time. Then Happ wiggled
his way out of (trouble) early on, which is big."
Happ (10-11) became the fifth Blue Jays starter to reach double
digits in wins this season. He allowed eight hits, including a home
run by third baseman Kyle Seager, and two runs.
The Blue Jays have five starters with at least 10 victories in one
season for the first time. It is the third time they had five
pitchers with at least 10 wins when relievers are included.
"It feels good to go out and get deeper in the game and accomplish
some of the goals that I kind of felt I could do and wanted to have
the opportunity to do," Happ said. "I haven't taken a lot of time to
reflect on the year, but I just want to just keep going out and kind
of keep us in the game for the most part."
Pillar hit his first homer of the season, a two-run blast in the
sixth against left-hander Lucas Luetge.
Gose hit his second homer of the year after entering the game in the
seventh. His blast came against right-hander Danny Farquhar.
Blue Jays reliever Kendall Graveman gave up a run in the eighth, and
Mariners right fielder Chris Denorfia hit his third homer of the
season in the ninth against left-hander Sean Nolin.
Paxton was a first-round pick by the Blue Jays in the 2009 draft.
The sides could not reach a deal, and Paxton was picked in the
fourth round of the 2010 draft by the Mariners.
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"I think he was probably a little bit too amped up," Mariners
manager Lloyd McClendon said of Paxton's outing Monday. "He was just
too charged up. He couldn't control his strike zone and worked
behind in the count a little bit too much. It's a learning
experience."
The Blue Jays led 4-1 after the first inning.
Seattle scored in the top of the first on a leadoff infield single
by center fielder Austin Jackson and a one-out double by second
baseman Robinson Cano.
The Blue Jays scored four in the bottom of the inning, three on a
triple by Valencia, who scored on a two-out single by second baseman
Steve Tolleson.
Valencia's triple cleared the bases after right fielder Bautista
singled with one out and designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion and
catcher Dioner Navarro walked. Valencia was initially called out at
third, but the Blue Jays won a challenge, and the call was reversed.
The Blue Jays stretched their lead to 9-1 in a five-run third
started by Valencia's double. First baseman John Mayberry and Pillar
walked. Shortstop Jose Reyes singled in a run on a ball deflected by
third baseman Seager. Bautista walked to score a run.
After right-hander Brandon Maurer replaced Paxton, a passed ball
scored Pillar. Encarnacion scored two runs on a single deflected by
Seager.
The Blue Jays scored an unearned run in the fourth on singles by
Tolleson and center fielder Dalton Pompey and a throwing error by
shortstop Chris Taylor.
Bautista hit his 35th homer of the season against Tom Wilhelmsen in
the fifth.
NOTES: Mariners RHP Chris Young, who struggled in his last outing,
will not make his scheduled start Thursday in Toronto. "I think he's
probably out of gas from a starting standpoint," Mariners manager
Lloyd McClendon said. A replacement was not named. ... Blue Jays DH
Adam Lind (sore back) did not play for the third game in a row, as
the Mariners started a left-hander. Lind could be ready to start
Tuesday. ... With RHP Marcus Stroman missing his scheduled start
Thursday while serving a five-day suspension, the Blue Jays will
piece together the game with relievers, possibly opening with rookie
LHP Daniel Norris for two or three innings. ... Seattle RHP Felix
Hernandez (14-5, 2.07 ERA) will start Tuesday against Toronto RHP
R.A. Dickey (13-12, 3.82 ERA).
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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