Dylan Cease, Blue Jays shut out Mariners to begin ALCS rematch

Dylan Cease pitched seven sharp innings as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the host Seattle Mariners 2-0 on Friday in the opener of a three-game series between the teams that met in the 2025 American League Championship Series.

It was the third victory in the past four games for the Blue Jays following a six-game skid.

The Mariners saw their three-game winning streak end, and they fell out of a first-place tie with the idle Texas Rangers in the AL West.

Cease (5-4) allowed only three hits -- singles by Cole Young and Victor Robles to open the bottom of the third and a one-out double by J.P. Crawford in the sixth. The right-hander walked one and struck out nine.

Blue Jays reliever Jeff Hoffman fanned two in a hitless eighth. Closer Louis Varland worked around a one-out single by Dominic Canzone in the ninth to log his 18th save in as many chances this season.

The Blue Jays scored both of their runs in the third against Mariners starter Luis Castillo (3-7). Rookie Sean Keys led off by grounding a single to center, and he came home on Andres Gimenez's double to left-center. Nathan Lukes laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Gimenez to third, and Vladimir Guerrero lined a single to right to make it 2-0.

The Mariners threatened in the bottom of the inning following the two singles, but Cease got rookie Colt Emerson to ground into a double play. After issuing his lone walk to Crawford, putting runners at the corners, Cease induced Randy Arozarena to ground out to second.

Castillo went six innings and allowed two runs on five hits. The right-hander walked one and struck out four.

The Mariners were without standout center fielder Julio Rodriguez, who was placed on the seven-day concussion injured list earlier in the day. Rodriguez was hit in the back of the helmet by an errant throw while running the bases Thursday in Seattle's 1-0 victory against the Los Angeles Angels.

--Field Level Media