Music: {allcanada} HERNANDEZ DOMINANT IN MARINERS WIN OVER BLUE JAYS

Friday, May 3, 2013

{allcanada} HERNANDEZ DOMINANT IN MARINERS WIN OVER BLUE JAYS

TORONTO -- Felix Hernandez pitched an eight-inning shutout with seven strikeouts as the Seattle Mariners downed the Toronto Blue Jays 4-0 on Friday.

Third baseman Kyle Seager led Seattle's (14-17) offence with three hits including a two-run homer, while Hernandez (4-2) gave up five hits to Toronto (10-20). Jason Bay of Trail, B.C., also had a home run for the Mariners.

Ricky Romero (0-1) made his season debut for the Blue Jays, striking out four but giving up three earned runs and three walks in a disastrous fourth inning. He made 70 pitches over four innings.

Romero has 126 career starts with Toronto, earning a career 51-44 record. The 2011 all-star struggled in spring training and started the season in the minor leagues to work on his mechanics.

He was called up from single-A Dunedin on Thursday after Josh Johnson was placed on the 15-day disabled list with an inflamed right tricep.

Romero has lost eight straight decisions over nine starts at Rogers Centre, stretching back to last season.

After three scoreless innings, Romero began to struggle with ball control.

Romero walked Victoria's Michael Saunders to start the fourth inning, then gave up a home run to Seager. He hit Kendry Morales with a pitch, who advanced to second on a wild pitch.

At this point, Romero seemed bothered by his throwing hand and called for a trainer. After a brief mound meeting, Romero stayed in the game and struck out Michael Morse.

His troubles returned though, walking Bay and Justin Smoak to load the bases.

A single by Dustin Ackley cashed in Morales and a fielder's choice by Jesus Montero resulted in a forced out at home. Brendan Ryan then popped out to second to end the fourth but the damage was done: Romero had faced all nine Mariners hitters in a single inning and Toronto trailed 3-0.

Blue Jays reliever Aaron Loup got through the fifth without any trouble, but then gave up a solo home run to Bay in the sixth after Morse grounded out. Smoak and Ackley hit back-to-back singles to put runners at first and second.

Montero hit a ball to deep right field, but Jose Bautista caught the ball at the wall and fired it in to second base to keep either runner from advancing. Ryan then hit into a forced out at second to end the inning.

Reliever Esmil Rogers had a three up, three down seventh inning for Toronto, but Hernandez stayed dominant. Bautista singled to left field, but Edwin Encarnacion hit into a double play. Hernandez then struck out J.P. Arencibia to retire the side and maintain Seattle's 4-0 lead.

The Blue Jays threatened again in the eighth inning as first baseman Adam Lind hit a double to deep centre-right field. He advanced to third when Colby Rasmus singled into right field.

Toronto was neutralized when Maicer Izturis hit the ball directly to Ryan, who threw Rasmus out at first. Munenori Kawasaki then ground out to short to end the Blue Jays' inning.

Tom Wilhelmsen came in to pitch the Mariners' ninth inning, inducing a ground out and a pop fly before walking Bautista. He then ended the game by striking out Encarnacion.

Notes: Toronto Marlies forward Mike Zigomanis threw out the opening pitching. The Marlies have time off while they wait for their second-round opponent in the American Hockey League's playoffs. ... Announced attendance was 23,779.