The Sports Xchange
Jun 11, 2017
SEATTLE -- J.A. Happ pitched six scoreless innings to earn his first victory of the season, and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Seattle Mariners 4-0 Sunday afternoon at Safeco Field.
Josh Donaldson homered, collected three hits and drove in three runs for Toronto, which won two of three games in Seattle.
Happ (1-4), a 20-game winner last year, spent six weeks on the disabled list this season due to left elbow soreness. The outing at Safeco Field was his third start since returning to action.
The Mariners put runners in scoring position in each of the first four innings against Happ but he got out of the james unscathed.
Happ retired the side in order his final two innings. He allowed six hits, walked one and struck out eight.
Six Blue Jays relievers combined for three scoreless innings to complete the shutout, allowing three hits. Roberto Osuna got the final out for his 16th save.
Mariners starter James Paxton took his first loss of the season.
Paxton (5-1), a left-hander from Ladner, B.C., allowed four runs on eight hits in four innings. Paxton was also making his third start back off the disabled list, as he was out most of May with a left forearm strain.
The Blue Jays got to Paxton in the first inning as Kevin Pillar led off with a double down the left field line and Donaldson followed with a two-run homer to right field, his eighth of the season.
The Blue Jays struck again in the fourth, as Pillar doubled with two outs and Donaldson drove him home with a single to right. Donaldson advanced to second on a walk and scored on Morales' single to left, making it 4-0.
The Mariners put two runners on in the ninth with two outs, forcing Toronto manager John Gibbons to turn to his closer. Osuna got Mitch Haniger to fly out to right field to cap the victory.
Seattle went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left 11 runners on base.
Mariners right-hander Emilio Pagan pitched four hitless innings of relief, allowing one walk and striking out five.
NOTES: Mariners RF Mitch Haniger returned after being on the disabled list since April 26 with a strained right oblique. Haniger went 0-for-4 with a walk. To make room on the roster, Seattle optioned OF Boog Powell to Triple-A Tacoma. ... The Blue Jays are off Monday before starting a two-game series Tuesday at home against Tampa Bay. Toronto RHP Marco Estrada (4-4, 4.04 ERA) is scheduled to start against Rays RHP Jake Odorizzi (4-3, 3.59). ... Seattle opens a four-game series Monday at Minnesota. RHP Yovani Gallardo (2-6, 6.26) is set to go up against Twins LHP Adalberto Mejia (1-1, 4.18).