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Blue Jays-Mariners Preview

May 19, 2010 - 6:49 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Toronto (23-17) at Seattle (14-24), 10:10 p.m. EDT

Toronto's continued ability to hit the home run has keyed its current success. However, the Blue Jays might need to find other ways to score when they visit Seattle's spacious Safeco Field.

The Blue Jays look to continue their road success in the opener of a two-game series against the Mariners on Wednesday night.

Toronto (24-17) leads the majors with 65 home runs. It's hit 14 while winning five of six, including four in Tuesday's 11-2 home rout of Minnesota.

"I'm surprised," outfielder Vernon Wells told the Blue Jays' official website. "You don't expect the team to come out and just consistently hit balls out of the ballpark. That's not something you expect, but guys have gone up to the plate, had a good approach and executed."

Wells hit his 11th, while Lyle Overbay added his fourth and drove in three RBIs on Tuesday as Toronto concluded a 4-1 homestand. Edwin Encarnacion came off the disabled list to add a two-run shot and Aaron Hill snapped an 0-for-13 slump with a three-run homer.

"It's been a fun ride so far," said Wells, whose 203 career homers are tied with Joe Carter for second on the club's all-time list. "Guys have swung the bats really well."

Wells has gone 5 for 7 in his last two games to raise his season average to .316, but he's batting .196 with two home runs in his last 23 games against the Mariners.

Toronto - 13-6 on the road - is tied for the major-league lead with 28 homers away from home, but Safeco continues to be one of the toughest parks in which to go deep. In 18 games this season, the Mariners' home field is averaging an AL-low 1.0 home run.

The Blue Jays have homered five times while losing seven of nine at Safeco.

Though Seattle is 8-10 at home this season, Toronto could be in for a stiff challenge against scheduled starter Doug Fister (3-1, 1.72 ERA), who's allowed one home run in seven starts.

One of the majors' biggest surprises in 2010, Fister limited major league-leading Tampa Bay to one run in five innings of a 4-3 road win Friday.

"He gives us quality every time he gets on the mound," Mariners catcher Adam Moore said.

In his only start against Toronto on Sept. 25, the right-hander gave up four runs in 6 2-3 innings of a 5-0 road loss.

The Blue Jays hope Brett Cecil (2-2, 5.46) can bounce back when he takes the ball after allowing eight runs in two innings of a 16-10 win over Texas on Friday.

The left-hander has never faced the Mariners.

Seattle (14-25) looks to bounce back from a 2-6 road trip and avoid a fifth straight loss as it returns home. The Mariners fell to 4-10 in one-run games - the 10 losses are tied for most in the majors - after losing 6-5 in 10 innings at Oakland on Tuesday.

Casey Kotchman drove in two runs and Chone Figgins added two hits for the Mariners.

Though Figgins is batting .193 in his first season with Seattle, he's hitting .385 in his last 16 games versus Toronto.