Some days you just don’t have it. This certainly qualifies as one of those, as the Blue Jays were dominated by the Mariners on Saturday afternoon. The pitching was poor and the offense remained hidden after mustering up only four hits last night. Add it all up and it’s one to forget in the form of a listless 14-5 defeat.
Toronto struck first when Kevin Pillar scored on a Josh Thole sacrifice fly in the second inning but things unraveled rather quickly thereafter. R.A. Dickey struggled mightily in what was the shortest outing of his Blue Jay career.
Gifted a lead, Dickey surrendered an infield single and hit two batters before giving up a grand slam to Nelson Cruz in the top of the 3rd. He came back out looking to reverse his fortunes in the fourth but loaded the bases, gave up another run on another infield hit and departed the game without recording an out in the 4th. Franklin Morales limited the damage and got out of the inning after another run scored, sending the Blue Jays into the bottom of the 4th trailing 6-1. Dickey’s final line reads 3.0 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 3 K on 72 pitches.
Jesse Chavez came on in the 6th and had a truly putrid day. He surrendered five consecutive hits before getting a double play off the bat of Cruz with the bases loaded. It looked like that would be the end of the scoring for the inning until Kyle Seager launched a two run homer to left center, making the score 11-1. Chavez’s final line: 0.2 IP, 6 H, 5 ER. Not good.
Drew Storen entered in the 8th and promptly gave up a walk, a ground rule double and a three run home run to Cruz. Cruz was a one man wrecking crew with the bat, notching seven RBI on the day. One inning pitched and three more earned runs off Storen, who just can’t seem to get going this season.
Michael Saunders homered to lead off the 6th and connected again in the 8th but was basically alone in the offensive attack. Justin Smoak hit a two run homer in the 8th to go with Saunders’ solo shot but it was far too little and way too late for the Jays. The offense was baffled by Hisashi Iwakuma, who picked up his fif2th straight win. He worked 6.0 innings and gave up just four hits and two runs. The rest of the runs were scored off mop up man and former Blue Jay farmhand Wade LeBlanc.
Top Play of the Game by WPA
Today’s top play came early when Nelson Cruz hit his 9th career grand slam in the top of the 3rd inning. A monster mash into the center field seats, the big swing turned a one run deficit into a three run lead and served as a sign of things to come for the Mariners while accounting for a .283 WPA.
Bottom Play of the Game by WPA
The bottom play also came early when R.A. Dickey coaxed a double play ball out of Leonys Martin in the top of the 2nd. With nobody out and runners on first and second, the twin killing helped Dickey escape unscathed. At least for one inning. The GIDP earned a -.108 WPA.
Hey It’s Franklin, Comin’ Over to Play
Franklin Morales returned to the Blue Jays after being activated from his rehab assignment yesterday. The team has been desperate for relief help and would love if Morales can become an effective second lefty out of the bullpen. He picked up 2.0 innings of work on just 17 pitches today, entering with the bases loaded and nobody out in the 4th and only allowing one inherited runner to score on a double play. He only gave up one hit in the top of the 5th in an encouraging reintroduction.
Another injured Blue Jay returned to the lineup today as Ezequiel Carrera’s nagging Achilles was apparently no issue this afternoon. He returned to the leadoff spot and played the full day in right field so he should be fine going forward, though he’s been prone to minor re-aggravation so it’s something the team will keep an eye on.
Smashing Saunders
While most of the offense slept through today’s game, Michael Saunders hit his second and third dingers over the past two days. Both to left field, they were his 18th and 19th home runs of the season as the All Star continues to rake. He’s already tied his career high in homers in what’s been a wonderful season.
Perhaps the only other batting bright spot is Josh Donaldson’s run, as the reigning MVP has now reached base in 26 consecutive games.
Up Next
The Blue Jays will look to take the final game of the series tomorrow afternoon on Kevin Pillar bobblehead day. They’ll also see if there are any lingering effects from the line drive that hit JA Happ on his pitching arm in his previous start. Happ (12-3, 3.43 ERA) will be opposing left-hander Wade Miley (6-7, 5.36 ERA) with first pitch set for 1:07 ET.
Lead Photo: Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports