Dylan Cease delivered arguably his best start of the season, striking out nine over seven shutout innings as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Seattle Mariners 2-0 on Friday night at T-Mobile Park. The win opened a three-game series and a nine-game road trip for the Blue Jays, who entered the game 3.5 games behind the Mariners for the third American League wild card spot.
Cease sets tone early
Facing the Mariners for the first time as a Blue Jay, Cease struck out the side in the first inning and allowed just three hits and one walk while striking out nine. Jeff Hoffman pitched a scoreless eighth, and Louis Varland earned his 18th save with a clean ninth inning to complete the shutout.
The Blue Jays managed only two runs, both in the third inning. Rookie Sean Keys, who hit his first major-league home run the previous game, recorded his first multi-hit game and scored the first run. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI, while Cal Raleigh went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts for Seattle.
Missing stars and playoff implications
The game lacked the buzz of last year's AL Championship Series between the two teams, which featured George Springer's historic three-run homer in Game 7. Springer was absent on paternity leave, and Seattle's Julio Rodriguez remained on the concussion list. Max Scherzer rejoined the Blue Jays after a 49-pitch rehab outing for the Vancouver Canadians earlier in the day.
Seattle committed two errors, contributing to Toronto's scoring. The Blue Jays now face eight more road games before the all-star break, with the win providing a much-needed boost after a 3-7 home stand.
