Blue Jays 3 - 1 Mariners
Final
  for this game

Blue Jays, Mariners clash at Safeco

Aug 5, 2013 - 2:41 PM (Sports Network) - The Toronto Blue Jays pay a visit to Safeco Field on Monday to begin a three-game series with the resurgent Seattle Mariners.

Toronto avoided a four-game sweep against the Angels on Sunday with a 6-5 victory in the series finale. The Blue Jays plated two runs in the eighth inning, then scored twice more in the ninth to complete the comeback. Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion each delivered RBI singles in the decisive ninth.

"It was just big that we won the game, we needed that desperately," manager John Gibbons said. "We were down for most of the game and we got some big hits late. It was a much-needed win."

After losing seven of its previous nine contests, the Seattle Mariners rebounded with back-to-back wins in Baltimore over the weekend. Backup catcher Henry Blanco sparked Sunday's 3-2 victory with a two-run homer in the seventh inning, while starter Joe Saunders allowed two runs in six innings.

Seattle's offense went deep 10 times during its six-game road trip and has totaled 30 runs over the last five games. Michael Saunders, who had struggled throughout most of the season, went deep three times in the Baltimore series and drove in eight runs.

M's starter Hisashi Iwakuma took a no-decision against Boston his last time out as he allowed two earned runs in 5 2/3 innings despite battling neck discomfort. He gets the nod Monday.

"I'd been having a minor pain in my neck since my last start," Iwakuma said. "It's been bothering me, but nothing major. It did affect my pitches, because I couldn't command to both sides of the plate, but I was able to pitch inside to a lot of the hitters."

For Toronto, R.A. Dickey is looking to pick up where he left off against Oakland last week. The knuckleballer twirled six shutout innings and fanned eight batters. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner is just 8-11 with a 4.66 ERA in his first season with the Blue Jays.

Seattle took two of three from the Blue Jays when these teams met up in Toronto from May 3-5.






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