Addison Barger’s run-scoring single broke a tie in the eighth inning as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the host Seattle Mariners 6-3 on Saturday night.
Bo Bichette doubled and homered for the Blue Jays, who won their third consecutive game and snapped Seattle’s streak of having won nine straight series.
The Mariners’ Rowdy Tellez went deep for the fourth time in five games this season against his former ballclub.
Toronto reliever Mason Fluharty (3-0) got the victory and Jeff Hoffman worked the ninth for his ninth save.
The Blue Jays rallied from a three-run deficit. They pulled ahead after George Springer led off the eighth with a walk off Carlos Vargas (1-2) and stole second. With one out, Barger, who was born in the Seattle suburb of Bellevue, Wash., grounded a single to right to plate Springer. Ernie Clement followed with a single and, with two outs, Myles Straw lined a two-run single to right to cap the scoring.
Tellez’s solo shot to left-center field with two outs in the second off Blue Jays starter Bowden Francis broke a scoreless tie.
The Mariners extended their lead to 3-0 in the fourth. Julio Rodriguez grounded a leadoff single to center and Cal Raleigh drew a walk. Randy Arozarena doubled to left to score Rodriguez, then Raleigh came home on Leody Taveras’ one-out sacrifice fly to right.
The Blue Jays got on the board in the fifth as Clement drew a leadoff walk and, with two outs, Bichette hit a drive to right that just eluded a leaping Taveras at the wall.
Toronto tied the score in the sixth. Springer led off with a single to right, ending the night for Mariners starter Logan Evans. Alejandro Kirk greeted reliever Gabe Speier with another single to right, sending Springer to third, before Barger grounded into a forceout to make it 3-3.
Evans, a rookie making his third start in place of the injured Logan Gilbert (right flexor strain), went five-plus innings. The right-hander allowed three runs on five hits, with two walks and three strikeouts.
Francis pitched 6 2/3 innings and gave up three runs on six hits, with one walk and five strikeouts.
–Field Level Media
