SEATTLE (AP) – Blue Jays first team player Vladimir Guerrero Jr had a pitch through the fabric of his glove and the Seattle Mariners took advantage to take their eighth straight win. , beat Toronto 6-5 Sunday on two home runs by Carlos Santana.
“Baseball can be very cruel sometimes when things don’t go as planned,” said Toronto manager Charlie Montoyo.
The day after Santana hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning to win 2-1, he hooked up for the right to advance, running twice in the eighth. The Mariners are 16-3 for their best 19 games since 2003.
“Everything is positive right now, so we have to maintain it,” Santana said. “Energy is amazing. The support of the fans, in the club, the teammates are great. When you see that, everything is great.”
The Blue Jays’ starting player, Max Castillo, was pulled into fifth with a 4-1 lead after giving up a doubles singles, and David Phelps helped Justin Upton to load the base.
Sam Haggerty then returned to Phelps, who threw home to start a doubles match that ended easily. But catcher Gabriel Moreno’s throw broke Guerrero’s first shot, allowing a goal.
Guerrero continued to look on in astonishment while wearing his gloves while Phelps, who had begun to spin away from the mound in celebration, suddenly stopped. Julio Rodriguez followed with an RBI single that gave Toronto a 4-3 lead.
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This is the second time in a month Guerrero has had a problem with his glove. He had a ball go over the net in the win over Orioles on June 13.
“You know, that changed the game,” Montoyo said. “I have seen it twice this year. Often it doesn’t happen to the same guy and it happens to the same guy.”
Bo Bichette has had a homer, two singles and driver in three runs for the Blue Jays, who have been caught in a four-game streak and have lost nine of their last 10.
George Springer scored on the first pitch of the game for the Blue Jays, his 17th home game of the season and his 51st career lead. Raimel Tapia also played for Toronto.
Santana, acquired from Kansas City in late June, took the lead for the second time.
“It’s like he’s been here all year,” says Seattle’s Ty France. “He’s part of the family now and we’re so happy to have him here and we’ve been rolling.”
Moreno dropped a JP Crawford pop-up to start the eighth Seattle tournament. Santana finished Adam Cimber (8-3) in his seventh home game of the season, three for the Mariners.
The Mariners tied it in 4th place on Cal Raleigh’s sacrificial flight in game six. Bitchette went home on Saturday.
Seattle starting player Logan Gilbert allowed four runs on nine hits, both matching his season-highs, in six innings.
Matt Festa (1-0) threw the perfect eighth for the win and Paul Sewald made his 10th save.
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The series dragged the Mariners to a draw with Toronto for the AL’s third wild card spot. The Mariners are looking to make it to the knockouts for the first time since 2001. “You can’t celebrate anything. We’re not there,” said Seattle director Scott Servais. But everyone knows the term. It rains a lot in Seattle, so we have to end the drought.”
ALL STARS
Rodriguez was named to the All-Star team in the game. France, who was one of two finalists for AL’s first hitter spot, was not among those selected. “There are a lot of good players, and without taking anything from any of them, I definitely think I played my way there,” France said.
VEER
On Saturday, the Mariners selected rookie starter George Kirby to Triple-A Tacoma to ease his workload. Seattle manager Scott Servais said he expects Kirby to start one of two or three innings at Tacoma and return to the Mariners’ rotation after the All-Star break. At his position on Wednesday in Washington, Seattle could have a bullish day or start a long-running Tommy Milone cut, Servais said. Marco Gonzales will start on Thursday in Texas.
NEXT
Blue Jays: Toronto has a day off Monday and has not announced a starter for Tuesday’s home game against Philadelphia.
Mariners: RHP Chris Flexen (5-8, 4.00 ERA) will open Seattle’s two-game series in Washington on Tuesday. Flexen has won the last three starts.
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