Mariners defeat Blue Jays 3-2
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Seattle's Dustin Ackley dodges the tag of Blue Jays catcher J.P. Arencibia to score during the fourth inning Wednesday in Toronto. Associated Press |
TORONTO — Miguel Olivo hit a solo home run, Kevin Millwood won consecutive starts for the first time since May and the Seattle Mariners beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 on Wednesday night.
Edwin Encarnacion hit his 39th homer, a two-run drive into the second deck, but it wasn't enough to keep Ricky Romero from losing his 13th straight decision. The Blue Jays managed only two hits against five Mariners pitchers.
Millwood (6-12), who entered 1-6 in nine career starts at Toronto, allowed two runs and two hits in five innings to win back-to-back starts for the first time since winning three straight from May 13-23. The right-hander, who walked one and struck out three, has won just three of 19 starts since.
Shawn Kelley and Josh Kinney each worked 1 1-3 innings for Seattle, and Oliver Perez got one out. Tom Wilhelmsen earned his 26th save in 29 chances.
Romero (8-14) allowed three runs and eight hits in four-plus innings. Pitching on nine days' rest after giving up seven runs in one-plus inning against Tampa Bay on Sept. 2, the left-hander was unable to make the most of the extra down time. He remained winless since June 22 at Miami.
Romero struck out three and walked four, boosting his AL-leading total to 94.
Olivo got the Mariners on the board with a drive to left in the second, his 10th. Mike Carp and Trayvon Robinson followed with singles, but Romero struck out Brendan Ryan and got Dustin Ackley to fly out.
Seattle put runners at second and third with two outs in the third, but center fielder Colby Rasmus caught Olivo's sinking liner to end the threat.
Romero wasn't so fortunate in the fourth. Ryan drew a two-out walk and moved to third on Ackley's double, and both runners scored when Franklin Gutierrez singled to right.
Pitching coach Bruce Walton came to the mound after Romero issued a four-pitch walk to Jesus Montero to begin the fifth. When Michael Saunders followed with a ground single to right, manager John Farrell came out and replaced Romero with former Mariners reliever Steve Delabar. Romero did not make eye contact with his manager as he handed off the ball and walked back to the dugout.
Millwood set down the first 10 Toronto batters before Rasmus drew a one-out walk in the fourth. Encarnacion followed with a booming home run to left.
One out later, Adam Lind grounded a single to right, the final hit of the night for the Blue Jays.
NOTES: Romero leads the AL in earned runs allowed (109) and his ERA of 5.87 is highest among qualified AL pitchers. ... The Blue Jays are 11-23 in one-run games. ... Toronto's Adeiny Hechavarria made his first career start at 2B, while Anthony Gose started in left field for the first time. ... Seattle ace Felix Hernandez (13-7) faces Venezuelan countryman Henderson Alvarez (8-12) in Thursday's series finale.
