Mariners Log: Chase De Jong runs out of gas and Blue Jays bounce M’s

Thu., May 11, 2017

By Dave Nichols daven@spokesman.com (509) 459-5441

NELSON CRUZ PROVIDES ONLY OFFENSE WITH TWO-RUN HOMER

What happened: Former Mariner Justin Smoak went 3 for 3 with a solo home run and four RBIs and the Toronto Blue Jays took the first of a four-game series from the visiting Seattle Mariners 7-2 at Rogers Centre.

Smoak drove in runs in the first and fifth, then clubbed a home run in the seventh to put icing on the cake.

Nelson Cruz went 2 for 4 with a two-run homer (8) for the M’s, who managed just six hits off Jays starter Marco Estrada (W, 2-2, 3.12) and three relievers.

Mariners starter Chase De Jong went five innings and allowed six runs on seven hits adn three walks with just one strikeout. He was keeping the M’s in the game until the fifth, when he coughed up five runs – all after two outs.

Line Outs

Early action from Skydome. In the first, Jean Segura jumped on Jays starter Marco Estrada for a double, then after Ben Gamel struck out, Nelson Cruz launched a homer (8) to center for a quick 2-0 lead.
It didn’t last. In the bottom, singles by Kevin Pillar, Ezequiel Carrera and Justin Smoak (remember him?) led to a run for Toronto.
De Jong ran into trouble in the fifth. He recorded the first two outs no problem. But he walked Kevin Pillar on a full-count curveball, then Carrera singled and Jose Bautista walked, spitting on several fastballs just off the outside corner.
Smoak delivered again, this time a single just over the outstretched Segura playing deep at short in a funky shift and two runs scored. De Jong then served Steve Pearce a meatball, which he deposited into the bullpen in left for a three-run shot (4), and just like that it was 6-2.
More Smoak damage (see what I did there?) in the seventh. He climbed the ladder to crank a solo shot (6) off Sam Gaviglio, who was making his MLB debut.
There was no comeback. The Mariners had first and third with one out in the eighth after Cruz led off with a double and Danny Valencia singled, but Taylor Motter lined out to center and Mike Freeman struck out. They went 1-2-3 in the ninth.

The Takeaway

De Jong ran out of gas – quickly – in the fifth and the offense didn’t have much going. The bottom of the M’s order – the murderer’s row of Taylor Motter, Mike Freeman, Tuffy Gosewisch and Jarrod Dyson – combined to go 0 for 15 with six strikeouts.

Tweet of the Day

De Jong had no on, two out in fifth with 2-1 lead, but two walks and 3 hits — capped by Steve Pearce’s 3-run blast — and Blue Jays up 6-2.
— Greg Johns (@GregJohnsMLB) May 12, 2017

Players of the Game

Hero: Nelson Cruz. The only semblance of offense from the Mariners in this one.

Goat: Jarrod Dyson. 0 for 4. Three strikeouts. Average down to .202.

Mariners Notes

Before the game, the Mariners optioned RHP Dan Altavilla back to AAA Tacoma and recalled LHP Zac Curtis from AA-Arkansas. Curtis, 25 on July 4, was 0-1 with three saves and a 3.21 ERA (5 ER, 14 innings) with 13 strikeouts and four walks in 10 relief appearances with AA Arkansas this season. …The team also claimed right-handed starter Casey Lawrence from Toronto and placed Evan Scribner

Next Game

Seattle Mariners (17-18) at Toronto Blue Jays (14-21) on Friday at 4:07 p.m. from Rogers Centre. RHP Christian Bergman (0-0, 2.45) vs. RHP Joe Biagini (0-1, 2.78).

What others are saying (and writing)

The fifth inning decided this one and it’s the centerpiece of every game story emanating from the 7-2 defeat. … This hurts. Smoak, he of the year-after-year popup with runners in scoring position while a Mariner, was a big reason why Toronto won last night. … Jerry Dipoto intends to ride out this injury-riddled portion of this season. … The injuries have really cut into the pitching staff. … Thanks to visa problems, two Mariners were late to the game. And Robinson Cano did not play with his calf problem.