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

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. 

More from Toronto Blue Jays News

• Blue Jays: Snapping cold streaks at the right time
• Who Should the Blue Jays Extend First: Guerrero, Bichette or Manoah?
• Blue Jays now hold the top Wild Card spot, and yes that’s a good thing
• Blue Jays may have the tools to use a Bullpen Day
• Blue Jays win important first game after Bichette’s late inning heroics

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.