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Rodriguez's hit caps big rally as Mariners down Blue Jays

Apr 12, 2011 - 7:01 AM Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Luis Rodriguez hit a two-run single in the bottom of the ninth, as the Seattle Mariners rallied from seven runs down to beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 8-7, in the opener of a three-game series.

Rodriguez entered the game in the seventh inning after third baseman Chone Figgins left with a bruised left thumb.

Michael Saunders led off the ninth with a double and was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Brendan Ryan. Ichiro Suzuki came up with two outs and was intentionally walked after he worked a 2-0 count. Suzuki stole second base to allow the game-winning run to come in on Rodriguez's base hit to right-center field.

The come-from-behind victory snapped a seven-game skid for Seattle.

"Tough night on the mound," Toronto manager John Farrell said. "Anytime you walk 11 guys and still be in the game, things had to go for us right in the first part of it, but we simply lost the strike zone."

Felix Hernandez allowed seven runs on 12 hits and two walks with six strikeouts through six innings, but was saved from the loss by Seattle's late inning rally.

Toronto's Jesse Litsch pitched five innings, allowing five hits and four walks while striking out four and did not allow a run.

Trailing 7-0, Milton Bradley got Seattle's come back started with a solo shot in the seventh.

Then after David Purcey allowed the Mariners to load the bases in the eighth, Octavio Dotel walked in two runs before Marc Rzepczynski came in from the bullpen. But Rzepczynski had the same luck, walking in another run and giving up a two-run single to Justin Smoak.

Toronto's fourth pitcher of the inning, Shawn Camp, ended the rally when Miguel Olivo grounded into a double play, but not before the Mariners made it a 7-6 contest.

Toronto's bullpen entered the game leading the majors with a 1.11 ERA. Camp (0-1) took the loss and the blown save after Rodriguez's ninth inning heroics.

"We really broke through there in the 8th inning and Saunders got the big hit to lead things off after that in the 9th," Mariners manager Eric Wedge said. "Can't say enough about that at bat that Louie Rodriguez had, nine or 10 pitches with the game on the line, fighting through it, fouling some pitches off, ultimately came through, you love to see that. It was a good win for us."

Josh Lueke (1-0) earned his first career win with a perfect ninth inning that included a strikeout.

The Blue Jays started what looked like an easy rout of the Mariners with an infield single by Jayson Nix that scored Travis Snider in the second inning.

Aaron Hill's double scored Jose Bautista, and Snider hit a fielder's choice to second that scored Hill after he was moved to third by a J.P. Arencibia single that made the score 3-0 in the third.

Toronto tacked on two more runs in the fourth. Hernandez's wild pitch scored Edwin Encarnacion and Yunel Escobar's sacrifice fly to center made it a 5-0 game.

Corey Patterson's two-run home run gave the Blue Jays a seven-run cushion.

Game Notes

Jose Bautista has reached base safely in all seven games that he has played this season...Seattle entered the game hitting just .194 with runners in scoring position...Both teams left a combined 22 men on base.