Blue Jays give up two touchdowns in big loss to Mariners

The Toronto Blue Jays had a game to forget on Saturday afternoon, allowing 14 runs on 19 hits in a 14-5 blowout loss to the Seattle Mariners.

Michael Saunders gave the fans something to cheer about, though, hitting a pair of opposite-field home runs to give him 19 on the season. This ties Saunders with his career high set in 2012 with Seattle.

Dickey managed to dance around damage in the first two innings, but after hitting back-to-back Mariners in the third to load the bases, Nelson Cruz unloaded for a grand slam. It was Cruz’s 24th home run of the season, but he quickly added his 25th on a three-run blast later in the eighth inning.

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The knuckleballer loaded the bases with none out in the following frame but could not record an out. Dickey left having thrown 72 pitches over 3.0+ innings, allowing six runs on seven hits.

Franklin Morales took over and gave the Blue Jays two very nice innings of relief work, but Jesse Chavez wasn’t as fortunate. The right-hander recorded just two outs in the sixth inning, allowing five runs on six hits including a home run to Kyle Seager.

After one and a third scoreless from Bo Schultz, Drew Storen allowed the second home run to Cruz to balloon his ERA to 6.21. Storen’s salary makes him a difficult player to move, both inside and outside of the organization, but the right-hander has been struggling.

Joe Biagini handled the ninth, striking out one and getting a hand from Kevin Pillar‘s sliding catch to end the inning.

Justin Smoak joined Saunders is getting revenge on his own team, hitting a two run home run off former Blue Jay lefty Wade LeBlanc in the bottom of the eighth. Devon Travis went 3-for-4 with a double, moving his average to .283.

The series finale goes tomorrow afternoon at 1:07 p.m. ET with J.A. Happ (12-3, 3.43 ERA) scheduled to face Wade Miley (6-7, 5.36 ERA). Following this series, the San Diego Padres travel to Toronto for three games.