SEATTLE MARINERS

Mariners Fast Facts: Seattle dominates playoff return, beats Blue Jays 4-0

Oct 7, 2022, 4:10 PM | Updated: 8:37 pm

TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07: Julio Rodriguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates the win following Game One of the AL Wild Card series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07:  Luis Castillo #21 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates the win with Manager Scott Servais following Game One of the AL Wild Card series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07: Seattle Mariners players celebrate in the infield after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in Game One of their AL Wild Card series at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07: Andres Munoz #75 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates the win following Game One of the AL Wild Card series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07: Andres Munoz #75 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates the win with catcher Cal Raleigh #29 following Game One of the AL Wild Card series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07: Andres Munoz #75 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates the win with catcher Cal Raleigh #29 following Game One of the AL Wild Card series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07: Julio Rodriguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates the win with Jarred Kelenic #10 and Mitch Haniger #17 following Game One of the AL Wild Card series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07:  Julio Rodriguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates the win with Ty France #23 and J.P. Crawford #3 following Game One of the AL Wild Card series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07:  Luis Castillo #21 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates the win following Game One of the AL Wild Card series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07: Luis Castillo #21 of the Seattle Mariners (R) celebrates with Andres Munoz #75 after their team defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in Game One of their AL Wild Card series at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) 
              Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo throws against the Toronto Blue Jays during the third inning Game 1 in an AL wild-card baseball playoff series in Toronto on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo reacts after striking out Toronto Blue Jays' Danny Jansen during the seventh inning of Game 1 of a baseball AL wild-card series, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, in Toronto. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Toronto Blue Jays' George Springer reacts after being hit by a pitch from Seattle Mariners' Luis Castillo during the eighth inning of Game 1 of a baseball AL wild-card series, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, in Toronto. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Alek Manoah reacts as he walks back to the dugout after the top of the fourth inning of Game 1 in an AL wild-card baseball playoff series against the Seattle Mariners in Toronto on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo reacts after the final out of the fourth inning of Game 1 in an AL wild-card baseball playoff series against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Toronto Blue Jays' Bo Bichette walks back to the dugout after grounding out to end the fifth inning of Game 1 in an AL wild-card baseball playoff series against the Seattle Mariners in Toronto on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. walks back to the dugout after striking out against the Seattle Mariners during the sixth inning of Game 1 in an AL wild-card baseball playoff series in Toronto on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. listens to the pitch call during the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners in Game 1 of a baseball AL wild-card series, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, in Toronto. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr., center, walks back to the dugout after striking out against the Seattle Mariners during the sixth inning of Game 1 in an AL wild-card baseball playoff series in Toronto on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodriguez is hit by a pitch during the fifth inning of Game 1 in an AL wild-card baseball playoff series against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh catches a popup from Toronto Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk during the sixth inning of Game 1 in an AL wild-card baseball playoff series in Toronto on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) catches a foul pop fly to end the third inning of Game 1 in an AL wild-card baseball playoff series against the Seattle Mariners in Toronto on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Tim Mayza works against the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning of Game 1 in an AL wild-card baseball playoff series in Toronto on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo works against the Toronto Blue Jays during the seventh inning of Game 1 of a baseball AL wild-card series, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
            
              Toronto Blue Jays' George Springer reacts after being hit by a pitch from Seattle Mariners' Luis Castillo during the eighth inning of Game 1 of a baseball AL wild-card series, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, in Toronto. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
            TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07: Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners hits a two run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning in Game One of their AL Wild Card series at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07:  Luis Castillo #21 of the Seattle Mariners looks on at the end of the fourth inning during Game One of the AL Wild Card series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07:  Julio Rodriguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after being hit by a pitch in the fifth inning during Game One of the AL Wild Card series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07:  Julio Rodriguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after being hit by a pitch in the fifth inning during Game One of the AL Wild Card series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07:  Pitching Coach Pete Walker of the Toronto Blue Jays speaks to Alek Manoah #6 in the fifth inning during Game One of the AL Wild Card series against the Seattle Mariners at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07:  Luis Castillo #21 of the Seattle Mariners reacts at the end of the sixth inning during Game One of the AL Wild Card series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07: Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners hits a two run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning in Game One of their AL Wild Card series at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07: Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners hits a two run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning in Game One of their AL Wild Card series at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07: Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners runs the bases on his two run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning in Game One of their AL Wild Card series at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07: Luis Castillo #21 of the Seattle Mariners pitches to the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning in Game One of their AL Wild Card series at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07: Alek Manoah #6 of the Toronto Blue Jays looks on from the dugout as they play the Seattle Mariners during the second inning in Game One of their AL Wild Card series at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07: Luis Castillo #21 of the Seattle Mariners looks up after ending the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in Game One of their AL Wild Card series at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts during an at bat against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning in Game One of their AL Wild Card series at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07:  Luis Castillo #21 of the Seattle Mariners delivers a pitch in the first inning during Game One of the AL Wild Card series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07:  Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with Eugenio Suarez #28 after hitting a 2 run home run in the first inning during Game One of the AL Wild Card series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07:  Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners hits a 2 run home run in the first inning during Game One of the AL Wild Card series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07:  Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with Eugenio Suarez #28 after hitting a 2 run home run in the first inning during Game One of the AL Wild Card series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07:  Luis Castillo #21 of the Seattle Mariners delivers a pitch in the first inning during Game One of the AL Wild Card series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07:  Alek Manoah #6 of the Toronto Blue Jays delivers a pitch in the first inning during Game One of the AL Wild Card series against the Seattle Mariners at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07: Alek Manoah #6 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches to the Seattle Mariners during the first inning in Game One of their AL Wild Card series at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07: Eugenio Suarez #28 of the Seattle Mariners hits an RBI double against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning in Game One of their AL Wild Card series at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07: Eugenio Suarez #28 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates his RBI double against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning in Game One of their AL Wild Card series at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07:  Luis Castillo #21 of the Seattle Mariners walks to the bullpen to warmup prior to Game One of the AL Wild Card series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07:  Wildcard branding prior to Game One of the AL Wild Card series between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Seattle Mariners at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07:  Postseason branding prior to Game One of the AL Wild Card series between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Seattle Mariners at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07:  Wildcard branding prior to Game One of the AL Wild Card series between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Seattle Mariners at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07:  Julio Rodriguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after being hit by a pitch in the first inning during Game One of the AL Wild Card series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07:  Eugenio Suarez #28 of the Seattle Mariners hits a 1 run double in the first inning during Game One of the AL Wild Card series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 07:  Julio Rodriguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners scores on a 1 run double by Eugenio Suarez #28 in the first inning during Game One of the AL Wild Card series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on October 7, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

Were the Mariners ready? Yeah, they were ready.

Mariners 4, Blue Jays 0: Box score | M’s take series lead – quotes and full recap

The M’s came out like a house of fire in their first postseason game since 2001, beating the Toronto Blue Jays 4-0 in Game 1 of their best-of-three American League Wild Card Series. Just like that, they are a win away from moving on to a meeting with the Houston Astros in the AL Division Series next week.

It was the kind of performance the Mariners have become known for this year.

They received a quality start from their starting pitcher, in this case an absolutely outstanding performance by Luis Castillo. They played clean defense. They rode an early lead after a huge homer in the first inning. And then the bullpen held it down in the end.

Luis Castillo does the nearly impossible as M’s silence Toronto

Here are full video highlights and the fast facts from Friday’s gigantic postseason win.

What you need to know

Luis Castillo was on another level on the mound for the Mariners, with their blockbuster trade deadline acquisition everything they could have hoped for when they swung the deal to get him from the Reds. He threw 7 1/3 scoreless innings, scattering six hits and allowing minimal hard contact. He finished with five strikeouts with his fastball living in the 99-100 mph range, and he had silly movement all game long.

Castillo got all the run support he needed before he even stepped on the mound.

That’s because Cal Raleigh showed his flair for the dramatic once again.

Watch: Mariners open return to playoffs with Cal Raleigh homer

A week after he became the first player in MLB history to hit a pinch-hit, walk-off home run to clinch a postseason berth for his team, Raleigh crushed another big homer for the M’s. Hitting in the cleanup spot for just the second time as a major leaguer, he worked the count against Blue Jays All-Star Alek Manoah and got his pitch, drilling a two-run shot to right field to give Seattle a nearly immediate 3-0 lead in the first inning (he came up with the M’s already leading by a run).

Rookie phenom and leadoff man Julio Rodríguez showed the moment wasn’t too big for him, reaching base three times – twice being hit by Manoah pitches and then a single in the seventh – and scoring a pair of runs.

Eugenio Suárez began the scoring with an RBI double down the line in right field to score Rodríguez in the first inning. He added another RBI in the fifth and a single to lead off the eighth.

Ty France had a single with Rodríguez running from first base in the fifth, setting up Suárez’s RBI groundout. He also moved Rodríguez over to second with a groundout in the first right before Suárez’s double.

Mitch Haniger hit a double in the eighth inning.

Top reliever Andrés Muñoz took over with a runner on and one out in the eighth inning, and he got Seattle out safely by retiring All-Stars Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette. He stayed out for the final inning, striking out two more All-Stars – Teoscar Hernández and Alejandro Kirk – and working around a two-out double by Matt Chapman.

Up next

Game 2 is set for 1:07 p.m. Saturday on Seattle Sports 710 AM and streaming on SeattleSports.com and the Seattle Sports app. Pregame starts at noon, and a special broadcast featuring hosts Bob Stelton and Mike Salk along with Mariners analyst and former MLB pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith will air from 10 a.m. to noon live on Seattle Sports 710 AM. You can watch the broadcast live at Hatback Bar and Grille, located directly across the street from T-Mobile Park.

More Mariners coverage from Seattle Sports

GM Justin Hollander: Mariners do 4 things that ‘drive postseason success’
Drayer’s Mariners Notebook: Excitement, not nerves, evident for M’s in Toronto
Mariners-Blue Jays a battle of strengths with Seattle’s arms and Toronto’s bats
How Seattle’s starting rotation looks for Wild Card series
The defining factors in playoff series between M’s and Blue Jays

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