Blue Jays bid to build up steam in series opener vs. Mariners

In the past, trips to Seattle almost have felt like home games for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Thousands of fans from across western Canada usually flock south of the border to cheer on their country's lone MLB franchise.

But it appears that might not be the case this weekend when the teams open a three-game series Friday night.

President Donald Trump's threat of tariffs and rhetoric about Canada becoming the 51st state apparently will keep many Blue Jays fans at home.

Denny Heck, the lieutenant governor of Washington, told Global News that reservations for this weekend were down by half.

"I have to put my country over my team and really send a message with my money," Blue Jays fan Arthur Gallant told the Canadian news organization.

The Blue Jays could use all the support they can get. They had lost four in a row before rallying from a four-run deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Angels 8-5 on Thursday night in Anaheim, Calif.

Daulton Varsho went 3-for-4 with a double, home run and three RBIs, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also had three hits and Anthony Santander had a go-ahead, two-run single in a four-run sixth inning for the Blue Jays.

The eight runs matched Toronto's season high.

Meanwhile, the Mariners have won nine straight series -- including taking two of three games in Toronto on April 18-20 -- to move into first place in the American League West. It's the Mariners' longest streak since the record-tying 116-win 2001 team won 15 straight series.

Surprisingly, the Mariners have been winning with two of their starting pitchers -- Logan Gilbert and George Kirby -- on the injured list.

"It's just a little bit of everything," said Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who is tied for the major-league lead with 12 home runs. "We're taking walks, grinding out at-bats, taking our hits through the middle of (the) field and other ways. It's not the sexiest, but, you know, that's kind of how baseball is."

The Mariners had Thursday off after rallying from a five-run deficit to defeat the Athletics 6-5 Wednesday afternoon in West Sacramento, Calif. Rowdy Tellez hit a three-run homer and Leody Taveras, making his M's debut, drove in the tying run and scored the winner.

"It's almost like a broken record," Mariners manager Dan Wilson said, "just how well these guys keep fighting and come back."

Friday's series opener is scheduled to feature a pair of veteran right-handers in Toronto's Kevin Gausman (2-3, 3.83 ERA) and Seattle's Luis Castillo (3-2, 3.29).

Gausman is winless in three starts since April 15, though he allowed just one hit in six scoreless innings Saturday against Cleveland in a no-decision. He's 1-4 with a 2.77 ERA in 11 career appearances versus the Mariners.

Castillo had a streak of two straight wins snapped Saturday at Texas when he didn't get a decision despite giving up just one run on four hits in six innings. He's 2-2 with a 3.90 ERA in five career starts against the Blue Jays, beating them 8-3 on April 20.

--Field Level Media