SEATTLE (AP) — Hisashi Iwakuma struck out a career-high 13 and Michael Saunders and Kyle Seager had two hits apiece to help Seattle win its fifth consecutive game 4-1 over the Toronto Blue Jays. Iwakuma (2-2) struck out Rajai Davis three straight times after allowing Davis' first career leadoff homer, which gave the Blue Jays a brief 1-0 lead. Iwakuma's 13 strikeouts broke the Mariners rookie record of 12 previously shared by Mark Langston, Randy Johnson and Freddy Garcia. Iwakuma threw eight innings, allowed four hits and walked three. Toronto starter Ricky Romero (8-8) went six innings, allowed eight hits and three earned runs. He struck out seven and walked two. Romero has lost seven consecutive starts. The Blue Jays removed left fielder Travis Snider after the sixth inning because they traded him to Pittsburgh for right-handed starter Brad Lincoln. The Mariners tacked on a run in the third thanks to a wild pitch, a passed ball and an error by third baseman Brett Lawrie on Brendan Ryan's grounder that scored Mike Carp, who singled. Michael Saunders added an RBI double in the fifth. Iwakuma teetered on occasion after the first, but still held down the Blue Jays. Seager charged Jeff Mathis' grounder and threw out Yunel Escobar at the plate in the second. Colby Rasmus drove Saunders to the center-field wall in fifth inning, but Saunders made the catch on the warning track. Continued... |