Jays’ Romero no match for Hernandez
Felix Hernandez pitched an eight-inning shutout with seven strikeouts as the Seattle Mariners downed the Toronto Blue Jays, 4-0, on Friday.
Third baseman Kyle Seager led Seattle’s (14-17) offence with three hits including a two-run homer, while Hernandez (4-2) gave up five hits to Toronto (10-20). Jason Bay of Trail, B.C., also had a home run for the Mariners.
Ricky Romero (0-1) made his season debut for the Blue Jays striking out four, but giving up three earned runs and three walks in a disastrous fourth inning. He made 70 pitches over four innings.
Romero has 126 career starts with Toronto, earning a career 5144 record. The 2011 all-star struggled in spring training and started the season in the minor leagues to work on his mechanics.
He was called up from single-A Dunedin on Thursday after Josh Johnson was placed on the 15-day disabled list with an i nflamed right tricep.
Romero has lost eight straight decisions over nine starts at Rogers Centre, stretching back to last season.
After three scoreless innings, Romero began to struggle with ball control. He walked Victoria’s Michael Saunders to start the fourth, then gave up a homer to Seager. He hit Kendry Morales with a pitch, who advanced to second on a wild pitch.
At this point, Romero seemed bothered by his throwing hand and called for a trainer. After a brief mound meeting, Romero stayed in the game and struck out Michael Morse.
His troubles returned though, walking Bay and Justin Smoak to load the bases.
A single by Dustin Ackley cashed in Morales and a fielder’s choice by Jesus Montero resulted in a forced out at home. Brendan Ryan then popped out to second to end the fourth but the damage was done: Romero had faced all nine Mariners hitters in a single inning and Toronto trailed 3-0.
Blue Jays reliever Aaron Loup got through the fifth without any trouble, but then gave up a solo home run to Bay in the sixth after Morse grounded out. Smoak and Ackley hit back-to-back singles to put runners at first and second.
Montero hit to deep right, but Jose Bautista caught the ball at the wall and fired it in to second base to keep either runner from advancing. Ryan then hit into a force out at second to end the inning.
Reliever Esmil Rogers had a three up, three down seventh in- ning for Toronto, but Hernandez stayed dominant. Bautista singled to left field, but Edwin Encarnacion hit into a double-play. Hernandez then struck out J.P. Arencibia to retire the side and maintain Seattle’s 4-0 lead.