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 He does know it was a big one, snapping a 4-4 tie, and the
Seattle Mariners went on to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-5 to keep
their fading playoff hopes alive.
Morrison's second homer of the game, and his 11th of the season,
came against Blue Jays left-handed reliever Aaron Loup (4-4).
"I don't have any idea how I hit that guy," said Morrison who
started the game in left field before moving to first base. "He's
filthy. I blacked out. I don't know what happened. Obviously,
playing every day has helped my timing."
Morrison hit a three-run homer in the fourth against right-handed
reliever Todd Redmond to give the Mariners a 4-2 lead.
"He came up real big for us today, when we needed it most," Mariners
manager Lloyd McClendon said.
The Mariners (84-75) salvaged the finale of the four-game series
after being outscored 25-6 while losing the first three games. They
entered the day three games behind both Oakland and Kansas City in
the race for two American League wild-card spots. The A's and Royals
were in action Thursday night.
"We're still in the ring, still fighting," McClendon said. "It's a
good feeling. A lot of teams wish they were in our position. As dire
as it may look, there's teams that wish they were in the Seattle
Mariners' shoes right now."
Catcher Mike Zunino also homered, and third baseman Kyle Seager
drove in two runs with two singles for the Mariners. Seattle snapped
a five-game losing streak and ended a three-game winning streak by
the Blue Jays (81-78).
Blue Jays right fielder Kevin Pillar hit his second homer of the
season to lead off the ninth inning against Fernando Rodney, who
went on to post his 47th save.
Both teams used pitchers who were working from the bullpen as their
starters Thursday.
Mariners right-hander Tom Wilhelmsen made his second career start
and allowed two hits, two walks and two runs in 1 1/3 innings. He
was starting in place of Chris Young, who was dropped from the
rotation because of fatigue.
The Blue Jays took a 2-0 lead in the second inning, a rally that
started with a single by third baseman Danny Valencia. Catcher
George Kottaras walked and was forced at second on Pillar's grounder
to shortstop as Valencia took third. Center fielder Anthony Gose
singled in Valencia.
Left-hander Lucas Luetge replaced Wilhelmsen, and shortstop Ryan
Goins brought home Pillar on a groundout to second.
Blue Jays left-hander Daniel Norris, a September call-up, allowed
one hit, two walks and two runs in 3 1/3 innings in his first major
league start.
Although Norris is a starter, he was used only in relief since
coming up from the minors. The change in routine reduced the
velocity of his fastball.
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"I thought Norris did OK," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "I
think it's a good way for him to end the season going out there and
getting a few innings under his belt. He scattered a little bit, but
I think that had a lot to do with nerves."
Norris said, "Coming out of the bullpen is a different throwing
regimen that I go through. That's been something to try and get used
to for me. It's obvious my stuff is not really there. It's tough to
try and pitch without your stuff, but sometimes that's (when) the
competitor has to come out. Not only is the velocity down, but just
the command of it is different. I think I was throwing more
off-speed because of that."
Mariners shortstop Chris Taylor led off the fourth inning with a
bunt single. First baseman Kendrys Morales walked with one out.
Redmond replaced Norris and gave up an RBI single to Seager before
allowing Morrison's three-run blast.
The Blue Jays tied it in the fifth. Left fielder Dalton Pompey
walked against left-hander Joe Beimel, took second on an error by
Morales on a pickoff attempt and stole third.
Second baseman Munenori Kawasaki walked, right-hander Yoervis Medina
(5-3) gave up a sacrifice fly to designated hitter Edwin
Encarnacion, and Kawasaki scored on a single to right by first
baseman Adam Lind.
Seattle regained the lead when Morrison led off the sixth with a
homer against Loup. Dustin McGowan entered with one out and allowed
Zunino's 22nd homer of the season.
The Mariners went ahead 7-4 in the seventh inning after Morales
doubled with one out and pinch runner James Jones scored on a single
by Seager, who was out trying for a double.
NOTES: Blue Jays INF Ryan Goins made his ninth start of the season
at shortstop, with SS Jose Reyes on the bench. LF Dalton Pompey
batted leadoff in the absence of Reyes, the regular No. 1 hitter.
... The Mariners return home for a three-game series against the Los
Angeles Angels. Seattle RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (14-9, 3.54 ERA) will
pitch Friday against RHP Jered Weaver (18-8, 3.52 ERA). ... The Blue
Jays finish their season with a three-game series against the
Baltimore Orioles, with Toronto RHP Drew Hutchison (10-13, 4.51 ERA)
starting Friday against RHP Chris Tillman (13-5, 3.28 ERA).
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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