While this was going on, Mariners starter Hishashi Iwakuma – just as teammate James Paxton of Ladner did in a 2-1 Seattle win on Friday night – gave the Jays’ offence very little to work with, getting two flawless innings in the third and fourth and getting Edwin Encarnacion to strike out with two men on in the fifth.
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Before the game was over Cruz would go deep once more with a three-run shot off reliever Drew Storen in the eighth to punctuate the win.
Happ and three relievers combined on a one-hitter, Edwin Encarnacion hit a solo home run and the Blue Jays beat the Seattle Mariners 2-0 on Sunday, avoiding a three-game sweep. The team record is eight by Mike Blowers, Mike Cameron and Alvin Davis.
They won the other game – 1-0 over Kansas City on April 29 when that one hit was a Seth Smith homer…the Mariners suffered their fourth shutout loss of the season.
Happ battled all afternoon – three times in the first four innings he allowed the lead off runner on base only to shut down the Mariners offence the rest of the way.
On two swings of the bat, Mariners slugger Nelson Cruz recorded seven RBIs against the Blue Jays on Saturday at Rogers Centre.
“There weren’t a lot of opportunities but, in a game like that”, manager Scott Servais said, “you’ve got to take advantage of the few that you get”.
Dickey (7-11) scuffled all through his brief start – his shortest since going 2 2/3 innings on May 26, 2011. He is 0-5 with a 5.60 ERA in his last five starts dating to June 12.
Cruz hit his ninth career grand slam in the third, connecting after Dickey hit consecutive batters.
“I think the grand slam by Nelson Cruz helped me a lot”, Iwakuma said. Freese’s hit off Severino Gonzalez pushed the lead to three runs, and Francisco Cervelli capped the inning with a sacrifice fly.
Dickey left after the first four batters reached safely in the fourth. Kyle Seager ended Chavez’ fiasco with a three-run home run over the centre-field fence, giving Seattle an 11-1 lead and many among the 47,517 in attendance an excuse to find some air conditioning elsewhere. The Blue Jays have been a fantastic play with Happ on the mound, will 16 of his last 21 starts and 10 of his last 11 outings at home.
Jesse Chavez came on in the sixth and immediately got into trouble.
PIRATES 7, PHILLIES 4: Gregory Polanco and David Freese hit two-run singles during a five-run fifth inning to rally host Pittsburgh over Philadelphia.
The Toronto Blue Jays’ bullpen has lost a veteran right-hander acquired in an off-season trade.
Iwakuma has received a decision in 17 of his 20 starts.
NOTES: The Blue Jays reinstated Chris Colabello off the restricted list before the game and designated him off their 25-man roster. He’s expected to be assigned to Triple-A Buffalo. The Blue Jays will try to put together back-to-back victories when they host the San Diego Padres on Monday in the opener of a three-game interleague series.Toronto is 4-4 since the All-Star break and did not get off to the best start on a nine-game homestand by dropping two of three against the Seattle Mariners over the weekend.
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J.A. Happ will be going for his career-best 13th win of the season on Sunday.
