Mariners silence Blue Jays’ big bats in first two ALCS games

The Toronto Blue Jays’ high-powered lineup looked like an unstoppable force during the American League Division Series, piling up 34 runs, 50 hits and nine homers during a dominant 3-1 series victory over the New York Yankees.

It’s been a much different story against the Seattle Mariners’ pitching staff.

After surviving a marathon 15-inning do-or-die contest on Friday night, the Mariners traveled some 2,000 miles to Toronto and shut down the Blue Jays’ red-hot bats while seizing a 2-0 series lead in the ALCS.

M’s take 2-0 series lead | Instant reaction | Game 2 box score

Seattle has allowed a total of just four runs and eight hits over the first two games of the series, paving the way for a 3-1 victory in Sunday’s Game 1 and a 10-3 triumph in Monday’s Game 2.

And as for Blue Jays superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who went 9 for 17 with three homers in the ALDS? He’s hitless through two games against the Mariners.

“They’ve got a good pitching staff,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “They’re featuring some good stuff.”

In Game 1, Bryce Miller recovered from a first-pitch leadoff homer to George Springer and delivered a gem, allowing just one run and two hits over six brilliant innings – all while pitching on just three days rest. Seattle’s bullpen then finished the job, with Gabe Speier, Matt Brash and Andrés Muñoz retiring all nine batters they faced to close out a gutsy series-opening win.

“The job that Bryce Miller did was phenomenal,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “… It was one of those situations where you knew the bullpen was ready to bail him out at any time, but he just kept coming out and he kept throwing the ball so well.

“So to give us six strong innings, especially coming out of that first inning and the ability that he had to kind of close the door was phenomenal. And then the bullpen took it from there. Just an unbelievable job on the mound for us.”

Wilson had to go to his bullpen much earlier in Game 2, as Logan Gilbert yielded three runs over the first three innings Monday after making a 34-pitch relief appearance in Friday’s 15-inning marathon.

But once again, Seattle’s bullpen was more than up to the task. Eduard Bazardo quieted the Blue Jays with a pair of scoreless frames in the fourth and fifth. Then as the Mariners started pulling away, Carlos Vargas and Emerson Hancock covered the rest of the game with two scoreless innings apiece.

“Just an excellent job by the bullpen tonight,” Wilson said. “You can’t ask for more than that. These guys really delivered and gave us some strong innings.”

Through the first two games of the series, Seattle’s bullpen has combined to throw nine scoreless innings of one-hit ball.

And again, that’s after the Mariners threw 209 high-stress pitches in Friday night’s 15-inning ALDS classic.

“Our guys have proven over the course of the season to be very resilient,” Wilson said. “They’re just kind of built that way, whether it’s emotional or mental or whatever. They’re just resilient and they bounce back.

“To get an emotional win at home like that and come back here on the road – these guys were ready to go, and they knew we had more business to take care of.”

More Seattle Mariners ALCS coverage

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• Watch: Mariners grab early ALCS Game 2 lead on Julio’s 3-run HR
• Seattle Mariners Updates: Latest on Bryan Woo; next 2 starters set
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• Full ALCS Schedule: Seattle Mariners vs. Toronto Blue Jays

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