Great pitching plus an Encarnacion homer: Jays beat Mariners

Mariners 0 Blue Jays 2

That was an interesting game.

J.A. Happ didn’t look particularly sharp, but he only gave up 1 hit in 6 innings (with 4 walks). He walked the leadoff hitter in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th inning (and we all know leadoff walks always score), but he stranded them each time. It looked like he was hurting (or at least uncomfortable) in the 2nd inning and the trainers looked concerned.

But 6 innings of shutout ball, with 6 strikeouts.

Brett Cecil pitched the 7th, striking out 2.

Jason Grilli was helped out by some defense. Darwin Barney made an amazing catch at third and Kevin Pillar made his catch in center look much easier than it was.

Roberto Osuna had a 3 up 3 down 9th, striking out Adam Lind to finish the game, getting his 20th save of the season.

On offense, we didn’t do much. Just 4 hits and 2 walks, but scoring twice was enough. Edwin Encarnacion got us our first run, a homer to center field, that he just crushed, in the fourth inning.

Then, in the 6th, Josh Thole led off with a double (a very nice swing), moved to third on a ground ball to M’s first baseman Dae-Ho Lee made a nice throw to almost get Thole going to third. They needed the replay to prove it, but Josh was just safe. Thole would score on Josh Donaldson’s double play ground ball (I wondered whether the Mariners should have played the infield in, it was a 1-0 game at the time).

That would be it for scoring.

Plate umpire Tim Timmons had a tough day calling balls and strikes, which likely hurt the offense for both teams. You never knew what would be called a ball or a strike. It makes for tough hitting.

Jays of the Day are Happ (.362 WPA) and Edwin (.135)

No Suckage Jays today.

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