Eighth-inning rally lifts Blue Jays over Mariners, 5-2
TORONTO — Josh Donaldson, Yangervis Solarte and Justin Smoak hit three consecutive doubles in a four-run eighth inning as the Toronto Blue Jays rallied for a 5-2 win over the Seattle Mariners in American League baseball action Wednesday night.
Teoscar Hernandez hit a solo homer in the fourth inning before Toronto (20-17) broke the game open in the eighth.
Jaime Garcia (2-2) struck out three and gave up two runs — one earned — in five innings of work. Seunghwan Oh, John Axford and Ryan Tepera all pitched a scoreless inning, with the latter earning the win as the pitcher of record when the Blue Jays bats came alive.
Tyler Clippard earned his first save of the season, striking out two of the four batters he faced in the ninth inning.
Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin started at third base, making a rare appearance as all-star third baseman Josh Donaldson was the designated hitter in an effort to rest his throwing arm.
Also, shortstops Aledmys Diaz
(left ankle) and Troy Tulowitzki (right ankle) are both on the disabled list, and struggling second baseman Devon Travis is in triple-A while he tries to get his groove back.
In an effort to shore up its battered infield, Toronto announced earlier in the day that it had acquired third baseman Gio Urshela from the Cleveland Indians for a player to be named or cash. Urshela hasn’t played in the majors this season after a hamstring injury set him back in spring training. He was unavailable to play while his work visa was sorted out.
Wade LeBlanc (0-0) struck out three and gave up one run in five innings of work for Seattle (20-15).
He was followed by Chasen Bradford and Nick Vincent out of the bullpen before reliever Juan Nicasio blew the save and gave up five hits and four runs in one third of an inning.
Through the first seven innings of the game Toronto struggled to bring home runners in scoring position. Hernandez and catcher Luke Maile were both stranded at third, while Kevin Pillar was left at second, preserving Seattle’s 2-1 lead.