TORONTO (AP) With Carlos Delgado back in the lineup, the Toronto Blue Jays quickly matched their highest-scoring inning of the season.
TORONTO (AP) — With Carlos Delgado back in the lineup, the Toronto Blue Jays quickly matched their highest-scoring inning of the season.
Blue Jays 7, Mariners 6
Delgado doubled in his first at-bat off the disabled list, and Reed Johnson and Josh Phelps homered in a six-run first inning that led the Blue Jays over the Seattle Mariners 7-6 Tuesday night.
”If I bring some extra energy, so be it,” Delgado said.
After missing 33 games because of a strained ribcage, Delgado went 1-for-3. Toronto went 13-20 while he was sidelined.
”I felt very good. I guess no news is good news. The rib felt good,” Delgado said. ”I felt a little out of whack, but I guess I'll get used to it.”
Toronto manager Carlos Tosca and starter Miguel Batista said Delgado's presence made a difference.
”Just the fact that he's in the lineup changes everything,” Batista said. ”He protects the guys in front of him and behind him.”
Johnson, who homered before Delgado doubled, said his impact was huge.
”His presence in the lineup relaxes everybody,” he said.
Delgado was second in AL MVP voting last year after hitting .302 with 42 homers and a major league-leading 145 RBIs.
Batista (8-5) won this fourth straight start despite allowing four runs, six hits and six walks in six innings. Rookie Jason Frasor pitched the ninth for his ninth save in 10 chances, allowing Bret Boone's RBI single and John Olerud's sacrifice fly.
Randy Winn and Scott Spiezio homered for the Mariners, who have lost four straight and six of eight. At 32-49, the Mariners are 17 games below .500 for the first time since Aug. 8, 1994 (46-63).
”We've just gotten into a rut,” Seattle starter Jamie Moyer said. ”You can point your finger in all directions. It's one of those years, but there is a lot of pride to play for, career's to play for, experience, nobody is going to give up. If we give up I'd be awfully surprised.”
Moyer (6-5) lost his third straight decision, allowing seven runs and 10 hits in five innings. Travis Blackley originally was scheduled to start, but Seattle changed its rotation Saturday, a day after a rain delay forced out Moyer after just 23 pitches.
Winn hit a solo homer in the first, but Johnson hit a two-run homer in the bottom half, Gregg Zaun had an RBI single and Phelps hit his three-run homer.
Spiezio's two-run homer cut it to 6-3 in the second, but Toronto's Dave Berg hit an RBI double in the third. Ichiro Suzuki doubled home a run in the fourth, pulling Seattle to 7-4.
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