The Seattle Mariners trounced the Toronto Blue Jays 10-3 at Rogers Centre on Thanksgiving Monday, sinking Canada’s team into a deep hole in the American League Championship Series.
The Jays now trail the Mariners 2-0 in the best-of-seven ALCS, facing three straight games at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park.
Homers from Josh Naylor and Jorge Polanco highlighted another dominant day for the Mariners, as Jays rookie pitcher Trey Yesavage absorbed the first loss of his young MLB career.
In his second-ever postseason start, Yesavage allowed four hits and five earned runs in four innings of work, striking out four and walking three.
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It was a bumpy few batters to start Monday’s game for the promising 22-year-old who skyrocketed through the minor leagues and arrived with the Jays just last month. Yesavage looked as though he had rung up Randy Arozarena, but what appeared to be a third strike was called a ball. The hitter even looked as though he was about to walk away. The at-bat continued, and Yesavage hit Arozarena with a pitch and put him on base.
“It is what it is… gotta make better pitches late in the count there. Can’t be hitting a guy 3-2. That’s on me,” said Yesavage. “Just got to find a way to reset. Sometimes it’s hitter zone, sometimes it’s pitcher zone, but it’s up to the pitcher to adapt to that.”
Yesavage then walked Cal Raleigh, before Julio Rodriguez smashed a three-run homer. It was the first extra-base hit Yesavage had allowed off his splitter since arriving in the majors.
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He dug in and proceeded to strike out three of the next four he faced. He saw 20 batters and threw 70 pitches in his outing before Toronto manager John Schneider pulled him in the fifth, with the game tied 3-3.
Schneider called a parade of pitchers out of the bullpen – Louis Varland, Mason Fluharty, Braydon Fisher, Yariel Rodriguez, Chris Bassitt and Eric Lauer.
Some of Toronto’s hottest hitters of the postseason have gone quiet in the ALCS, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Dalton Varsho, who both went hitless on Monday for a second straight day. The Jays were outhit 10-6.
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After they mustered just two hits in Sunday’s 3-1 loss, the Jays were a little more productive at bat in Game 2.
With the roof open, it looked promising when George Springer, hitting leadoff, cracked a hanging slider off the left field wall for a double.
Nathan Lukes brought him home, then Alejandro Kirk singled to score Lukes and cut into Seattle’s lead.
Lukes’ second single of the night brought Ernie Clement home to tie the game.
But it didn’t stay tied for long.
Seattle’s Polanco broke open the game with a three-run blast in the fifth inning – the same guy who provided the M’s game-winning hits in their previous two games.
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Naylor, the Mariners’ Mississauga native, thumped a two-run shot to delight a large, loud group of his own supporters and make the game a walloping.
J.P. Crawford singled and hit a sac fly to add two other runs.
Logan Gilbert, making the start for Seattle on short rest, scattered five hits and three runs – two earned – over three innings against two strikeouts and walk.
The Mariners now have a chance to finish off the Jays in Seattle, where Games 3, 4 and 5 are slated for Wednesday through Friday. Shane Bieber takes the hill for the Jays in Game 3, while George Kirby will start for the Mariners.
“I thought today was way better than yesterday, and we hit some balls hard. I want these guys to continue to feel like they’re on the attack… it’s what we’ve done this entire season,” said Schneider.
“Hopefully the luck turns, and hopefully the slug shows up when we get there.”