The Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Seattle Mariners 8-1 in the opener of their series, with the team hitting three home runs, according to a report from Nanaimo News Now. The win came a day after Toronto lost 13-2 to the Kansas City Royals in a series finale that ended with home fans jeering the team, the report said.
Starter Dylan Cease pitched for the Blue Jays, with relievers Mason Fluharty, Paul Sewald and CJ Van Eyk also taking the mound during the win over Seattle, according to the report. The pitching effort was strong enough, per the report, that the team did not need a big offensive output to secure the victory — though the three home runs provided one anyway.
Despite the pitching performance, Blue Jays manager John Schneider addressed the team’s offensive struggles before Friday’s game against the Mariners, speaking to players at Rogers Centre, according to the report. The comments followed Thursday’s blowout loss to the Royals, which the report described as an “embarrassing” defeat that drew jeers from the home crowd.
“You’ve got 27 games left,” Schneider told his club, according to the report. “Hopefully more. Let’s just kind of worry about one day at a time and leave it all out there.”
The report did not provide additional details on which players hit home runs, the final line score beyond the 8-1 result, or further specifics about the Royals series finale beyond the 13-2 score and crowd reaction. The report also did not specify the date of the game or how many games remain in the Blue Jays’ regular season beyond Schneider’s reference to 27 games left at the time of his comments.
The win over Seattle marked a turnaround for Toronto following a difficult finish to the series against Kansas City, according to the report, with the combination of effective pitching from Cease, Fluharty, Sewald and Van Eyk and a rare offensive surge helping the team secure the victory. Schneider’s pregame message to focus on one day at a time appeared aimed at steadying the club as it continues its schedule, the report indicated, though no further comment from Schneider or players following the win over the Mariners was included in the report.
Key facts
- Toronto Blue Jays beat the Seattle Mariners 8-1 in a series opener, hitting three home runs, according to the report.
- Dylan Cease started for Toronto; relievers Mason Fluharty, Paul Sewald and CJ Van Eyk also pitched, per the report.
- The win followed a 13-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals the previous day, a game that ended with home fans jeering, according to the report.
- Manager John Schneider addressed the team’s offensive woes before the Mariners game, telling players “You’ve got 27 games left… let’s just kind of worry about one day at a time and leave it all out there,” per the report.