George Springer hit the go-ahead RBI single in the sixth inning and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting Seattle Mariners 3-2 Friday night.

By taking the opener of the three-game series, the Blue Jays earned their fifth win in a row. The Mariners lost their third straight contest.

Toronto’s Alejandro Kirk has three hits, including a solo homer. Matt Chapman had an RBI double among his two hits, and Whit Merrifield also collected two hits.

Cal Raleigh hit a solo home run and an RBI single for Seattle. Jarred Kelenic and Julio Rodriguez also finished with two hits apiece.

Toronto starter Alek Manoah allowed two runs, six hits and four walks while striking out seven in five innings.

Seattle starter Luis Castillo gave up two runs, six hits and two walks in five innings. He fanned four.

Raleigh led off the second inning with his third home run of the season, a drive to right. The Mariners later loaded the bases in the inning on two walks and a hit batter before Ty France grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Kirk hit his second homer of the season, a liner to left, with two out in the bottom of the second. Castillo then allowed a walk and a double before shortstop J.P. Crawford made a good play on Kevin Kiermaier’s hard grounder to end the threat.

Seattle regained the lead in the third. Kelenic singled and stole second, Eugenio Suarez walked and Raleigh stroked a one-out RBI single.

Toronto tied the game in the bottom of the inning on a two-out walk by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and a double by Matt Chapman.

Tim Mayza (1-0) replaced Manoah and tossed a perfect sixth.

Trevor Gott (0-1) came on for Castillo in the sixth. Kirk led off with a single and Brandon Belt struck out before Kirk was forced at second on Merrifield’s grounder to Gott. Kiermaier was hit by a pitch, and Springer hit the tiebreaking single.

Jordan Romano also struck out two in a 1-2-3 ninth inning to earn his ninth save of the season.

–Field Level Media