José Berríos pitched 6 2/3 innings without allowing any runs, Davis Schneider hit a two-run single, and the Toronto Blue Jays won their first game at home on Monday night, defeating the Seattle Mariners 5-2.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had two hits and drove in a run for the Blue Jays, who played in front of a full crowd of 40,069 at their newly renovated stadium. The lower seats and both team locker rooms were renovated during the offseason.
Berríos, who now has a record of 2-0 for the season, gave up four hits, all singles, including three from Ty France of the Mariners. He walked one batter and struck out six.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider praised Berríos, especially considering the limited options in the bullpen for the team on that day.
Toronto has won four of its last five home openers. “All the work we did in the offseason is paying off now on the field,” Berríos commented after the game. Yimi Garcia, a reliever for the Blue Jays, struck out Dominic Canzone to end the seventh inning, leaving France stranded at first base.
Garcia managed to secure four outs but allowed a solo home run by J.P. Crawford in the eighth inning. It was Crawford’s second home run of the season.
Chad Green, another reliever, gave up a solo home run to Cal Raleigh in the ninth inning but was able to close out the game. Raleigh’s homer was his first of the season.
Mariners’ pitcher Luis Castillo suffered his third loss in three starts this season, allowing four runs and nine hits in five innings. Castillo’s earned run average (ERA) increased from 6.75 to 6.89 after this game.
The Mariners have lost five of their last six games. Ty France had a successful return to the Mariners’ lineup, going 3 for 4 after being activated from the paternity list before the game.
The Blue Jays scored their first run with an RBI single by Alejandro Kirk in the second inning, and Davis Schneider’s hit with the bases loaded brought in two more runs in the third inning.
During the game, home plate umpire CB Bucknor was hit in the face mask by a foul tip from Kirk in the second inning, causing him pain. However, after being checked by the Blue Jays’ trainer, Bucknor continued officiating the game.
