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Seattle Mariners

Mariners Log: Late offense lifts M’s over Jays before raucous crowd

Seattle Mariners’ Jarrod Dyson watches his go-ahead RBI single against the Toronto Blue Jays during the seventh inning on June 9, 2017 in Seattle. The Mariners won 4-2. (John Froschauer / Associated Press)
By Dave Nichols daven@spokesman.com(509) 459-5441

MARINERS SCORE LATE TO TOPPLE BLUE JAYS

What happened: Jarrod Dyson delivered an RBI single in the seventh inning to help along a late rally and the Seattle Mariners beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 in the first of a three-game series on Friday at Safeco Field.

Seattle has won 10 of its last 12 games, including seven of nine to begin homestand.

Dyson’s line drive gave the M’s a 3-2 lead. It came after Danny Valencia’s ground ball single allowed Robinson Cano to score from second on the previous at-bat. The M’s added an insurance run in the eighth on Kyle Seager’s RBI single to score Guillermo Heredia.

Starter Sam Gaviglio allowed two runs – one earned – on six hits and three walks over six innings with five strikeouts.

Tyler Cloyd made his season debut with one shutout frame in the seventh inning and picked up the win. It was his first MLB appearance since Sept. 29, 2013 at Atlanta with Philadelphia and his first win since June 6, 2013 at Milwaukee.

Nick Vincent got a big punchout of Justin Smoak with runners on base in the eighth, and Edwin Diaz had a 1-2-3 inning in the ninth for his 10th save.

Line Outs

  • Russell Martin led off the second with a walk and went to second on a passed ball. Ezequiel Carrera singled and Martin moved to third. Ryan Goins bounced into a force out, but it was enough to get Martin home.
  • Jose Bautista hit a monster home run with one out in the third. It might have come down by now.
  • The M’s manufactured a run in the bottom half. Jarrod Dyson singled with one out and stole second. Taylor Motter flied out, but Biagini uncorked a wild pitch and Dyson moved up to third. Ben Gamel then singled to bring home Dyson.
  • The play of the game came in the seventh. The Jays had a man on first with two down when Josh Donaldson ripped one for a double into center. Kevin Pillar tried to score all the way from first, but Dyson hit Motter and Motter’s relay to Mike Zunino was perfect to nail Pillar at home to end the inning and keep the score 2-1.
  • In the bottom half, Robinson Cano led off with a double and with one out, Kyle Seager walked. Danny Valencia’s ground ball got through the left side and Carrera couldn’t get enough on the throw to get Cano at the plate. Russell Martin then tried to get Seager at third but Donaldson’s tag was late and all hands were safe.
  • Zunino then drew a walk and Dyson followed with a line drive to center. Seager scored easily, but Pillar’s throw home nailed Valencia, who slid into the tag for the second out.
  • Reliever Nick Vincent gave up a pair of hits in the eighth but registered three strikeouts to keep it a one-run game
  • The M’s got an insurance run in the bottom half. Gamel doubled, but was nailed at third on a sacrifice attempt by Guillermo Heredia. Cano grounded out, with Heredia moving up a base. Nelson Cruz was intentionally walked, then Seager singled to drive in Heredia.
  • Edwin Diaz recorded a 1-2-3 ninth to nail down the win and his 10th save of the season.

The Takeaway

M’s get back in the win column and get back to .500. It might not seem like much, but it was a good bounce-back effort after having a five-game win streak snapped. Gaviglio fooled the Jays for the most part and the resilient offense came through in the later innings to rescue another win.

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Players of the Game

Hero: Jarrod Dyson. 2 for 3 with a run, RBI and stolen base, came through with line drive to give M’s the lead late.

Goat: Mike Zunino. Hard to give out a goat in this one, but he went 0 for 2 with a K.

Mariners Notes

  • Seattle is 10-2 (.833) since May 28, the best winning mark in the Majors in that span.
  • Seattle won its 11th come-from-behind game of the season, their third of this homestand.
  • Seattle starters are 9-2 in last 12 games, posting a 3.42 ERA (26 ER, 68.1 IP) with 54 strikeouts. In that stretch, M’s starters have allowed two earned runs or less in eight of the 12 starts.
  • Sam Gaviglio tossed a career-high tying six innings (also: May 24 at WAS). In five starts, he has a 2.67 ERA (8 ER, 27.0 IP) with 15 strikeouts. He has allowed one earned run or less in 4 of those 5 starts.

Next Game

Toronto Blue Jays (29-32) at Seattle Mariners (31-31) on Saturday at 7:10 p.m. at Safeco Field. LHP Ariel Miranda (6-2, 3.74) vs. RHP Marcus Stroman (6-2, 3.25).

What others are saying (and writing)

If there is one positive coming out of the injuries to the starting pitchers, it’s the discovery the M’s has more depth in the spot than anyone thought. Gaviglio pitched well again last night. … The Blue Jays’ fans packed Safeco again, though it wasn’t enough to carry Biagini to victory.