J.A. Happ dances around Mariners as Blue Jays win finale

Jul 24, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher J.A. Happ (33) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 24, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher J.A. Happ (33) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports

The Blue Jays and Mariners combined for just five hits on Sunday afternoon at the Rogers Centre, but Toronto came out on top 2-0 in front of another sellout crowd.

Starter J.A. Happ earned his 13th win of the season, a career high, and allowed just a single base hit in six innings of work. With the outing, Happ moved his ERA down to 3.27 on the season.

Happ started to look uncomfortable on the mound early in the third and quickly lost his handle of the strike zone, but continued to escape danger with some well-timed pitches late in at-bats.

Edwin Encarnacion finally broke through against Wade Miley in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run to right-centre field. It was Encarnacion’s 27th of the season and 224th as a Blue Jay, putting him ahead of Vernon Wells for third place in club history. He now trails only Jose Bautista (255) and Carlos Delgado (336).

In the sixth, Josh Donaldson grounded into a double-play but it brought home Josh Thole from third base to put Toronto ahead 2-0. Donaldson got the start as the Blue Jays’ designated hitter and Darwin Barney looked strong defensively filling in. 

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Brett Cecil entered to pitch the seventh, which appears to be his inning in the current bullpen makeup, and struck out two batters in a scoreless frame. Jason Grilli got the eighth, ending a perfect inning with his signature fist-pump.

Roberto Osuna entered for the ninth and struck out Adam Lind for the final out to earn his 20th save, tying his total from 2015.

Thole received his third consecutive start for the Jays as Russell Martin continues to deal with a minor knee injury stemming from a fall in the shower after he’d spent too much time in the sauna on Toronto’s off-day.

Prior to the game it was announced that the Blue Jays had designated reliever Drew Storen for assignment. Acquired in an offseason deal for Ben Revere, Storen originally competed with Osuna for the closer’s role, but struggled through 38 appearances with a 6.21 ERA. Ryan Tepera was recalled from the Buffalo Bisons in his place.