Blue Jays bash their way past Mariners 9-3 in series opener

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Marcus Semien homered and drove in five runs, Bo Bichette hit a three-run homer, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Seattle Mariners 9-3 on Wednesday night.

Blue Jays 9, Mariners 3: Box score

The Blue Jays had 15 hits — with all nine starters getting at least one — in the opener of the three-game series while winning for the eighth time in nine games. It’s the 35th game in which Toronto had at least 10 hits, matching Houston for the most in the majors.

Semien had three hits, including a three-run homer in the seventh inning — his 19th, the most among major league second basemen. He also had a two-run double in the second inning.

Vladimir Guerrero had two hits to bring his AL-leading total to 96. His 27 multihit games lead the majors. The Blue Jays also got two hits apiece from Teoscar Hernández, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Bichette, who broke open a tie game in the sixth inning by hitting his 15th home run.

Boffalo. pic.twitter.com/ou0ekMTeXC

— MLB (@MLB) June 30, 2021

Blue Jays starter Robbie Ray (6-3) struck out 10 while giving up five hits, a walk and three earned runs over six innings. Ray settled down after allowing two baserunners in the first inning and got 14 outs in a row to earn his fourth win in his past six starts.

Tim Mayza, Jacob Barnes and Tayler Saucedo combined for three shutout relief innings.

Ty France hit a tying three-run homer in the sixth for the Mariners, who fell to 2-2 in the fourth of a six-game road trip. Mitch Haniger and Tom Murphy also had two hits.

TY GAME. pic.twitter.com/1yKFUpCpbe

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) June 30, 2021

Chris Flexen was tagged for seven hits, three walks and three runs over five innings. Rafael Montero (5-3) gave up four hits in the sixth inning, including Bichette’s homer.

STICKY SITUATION

Mariners pitcher Héctor Santiago became the first player disciplined under Major League Baseball’s crackdown on grip-enhancing foreign substances, as he was given a 10-game suspension Tuesday.

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Michael Hill, the former Marlins general manager who is MLB’s senior vice president for on-field operations, announced the penalty two days after Santiago was ejected from a game at the Chicago White Sox. Santiago also was fined an undisclosed amount.

Santiago appealed the decision to MLB special adviser John McHale Jr., and the suspension will be delayed until the appeal is decided. Manager Scott Servais insisted before Tuesday’s game that there was no foreign substance on Santiago’s glove and that it was rosin.

BLUE JAYS TRADE

Toronto acquired injured outfielder Corey Dickerson and reliever Adam Cimber in a trade Tuesday with the Miami Marlins in exchange for infielder Joe Panik and minor league reliever Andrew McInvale.

Dickerson is sidelined with a bruised left foot and expected to be in a walking boot for at least two more weeks. He’s batting .260 with two homers and 14 RBIs.

The sidewinding Cimber has a 2.88 ERA in 33 games. He is expected to join the Blue Jays in Buffalo on Tuesday, manager Charlie Montoyo said.

ROSTER MOVES

The Blue Jays called up outfielder Jonathan Davis to replace Panik, and designated left-handed pitcher Travis Bergen for assignment

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mariners: RHP Erik Swanson (groin) did not pitch his scheduled rehab assignment for Triple-A Tacoma on Monday because of a sore back. … 1B Evan White (hip) received a cortisone shot. … Servais had no update on RHP Justin Dunn (shoulder) following his appointment with a specialist last week.

Blue Jays: RHP Rafael Dolis (finger) threw 25 pitches during batting practice and could be designated for a rehab assignment with this week, Montoyo said. … LHP Steven Matz (COVID-19) returns Wednesday.

UP NEXT

The series continues Wednesday night when Mariners LHP Justus Sheffield (5-7, 5.69 ERA) takes the mound against Matz (7-3, 4.26).

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