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Iwakuma fans M's rookie-record 13 in win over Toronto

Jul 31, 2012 - 5:59 AM Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Hisashi Iwakuma struck out a career-high and Mariners rookie record 13 batters over eight strong innings as Seattle downed the Toronto Blue Jays, 4-1, in the opener of a three-game set at Safeco Field.

Iwakuma (2-2) surrendered just one run on four hits and three walks to earn his first career win as a starter. He recorded his first victory on June 16 with two scoreless innings of relief versus San Francisco.

"He was fantastic tonight," Mariners manager Eric Wedge said about Iwakuma. "We really needed him to step up. We were very short in the bullpen tonight and for him to go eight strong innings like he did and pitch the way he did against a very good hitting ballclub, just a great performance."

Michael Saunders and Kyle Seager each had a pair of hits and an RBI for the Mariners, who stretched their win streak to a season-high five straight games.

Ricky Romero (8-8) gave up four runs -- three earned -- on eight hits and two walks with seven strikeouts over six innings to drop his seventh straight start.

During the game, Blue Jays left fielder Travis Snider was removed from the field prior to the start of the bottom of the seventh inning as he was dealt to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for pitcher Brad Lincoln.

Seattle also made a couple moves Monday, sending pitcher Steve Delabar to Toronto in exchange for outfielder Eric Thames and trading pitcher Brandon League to the Los Angeles Dodgers for outfielder Leon Landry and pitcher Logan Bawcom.

Toronto recorded its only run of the game when Rajai Davis led off the contest with a blast over the left-center field wall.

The Mariners, though, quickly answered in the home first after loading the bases with no outs on a Dustin Ackley double, Saunders' bunt single and a base hit by Jesus Montero on a line drive that hit second base umpire Tony Randazzo in the side.

Ackley then scored on John Jaso's double-play grounder to second base before Seager plated Saunders with a single to left, giving Seattle a 2-1 advantage.

After the Blue Jays had the tying run thrown out at the plate in the top of the second, Seattle added to its lead in the bottom of the frame. Mike Carp singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on a passed ball by catcher Jeff Mathis and crossed the plate on Brett Lawrie's fielding error on a hard grounder to third off the bat of Brendan Ryan.

Toronto squandered another scoring opportunity by stranding a man on second in the fourth inning before the Mariners made it a 4-1 game in the fifth when Ryan laced a double into the left-center field gap before coming home on Saunders' two-out double to right.

The Blue Jays only threatened one more time, when Kelly Johnson led off the seventh inning with a double, but Iwakuma retired the next six batters he faced.

"He was outstanding after the leadoff home run by Davis," Blue Jays manager John Farrell said about Iwakuma. "He dominated us after the first hitter of the game."

Josh Kinney took the mound for the ninth and struck out Yan Gomes and Yunel Escobar before walking Johnson. Lucas Luetge entered next and induced a grounder to short from pinch-hitter David Cooper, who was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas earlier Monday, to earn his first career save.

Game Notes

Toronto also placed designated hitter Adam Lind on the 15-day disabled list Monday...Carp had his streak of five straight games with an RBI snapped...Blue Jays first baseman Edwin Encarnacion saw his franchise record- tying streak of four straight games against Seattle with a home run come to an end...Toronto went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base.