Blue Jays Rally Past Mariners Behind Soriano, Late-Game Plays

The Toronto Blue Jays rallied for a comeback 4-3 victory on Saturday, overcoming an early deficit behind a strong outing from José Soriano and several key plays in the late innings.

Soriano was efficient enough to remain in the game into the seventh inning, even after a lengthy break between innings. The right-hander allowed a solo home run to Cal Raleigh and a two-run single to Taylor Ward but otherwise kept Seattle in check.

“He had great stuff throughout,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “I can’t say enough about going out for the seventh there after a pretty long layoff in between innings. He was just kind of relentless.”

Toronto chipped away at the deficit with help from Addison Barger, who scored on a wild pitch and later advanced home on a 3-2 pitch.

“That’s just him not assuming anything,” Schneider said. “That’s him just running hard and not assuming that what usually happens was going to happen.”

Barger has continued to make an impact since joining the lineup, maintaining the aggressive approach that has helped him contribute in different ways.

“He’s just playing his game,” Schneider said. “He’s not afraid to do it, and he’s being embraced by the guys around him.”

The Blue Jays also made a key pitching decision in the eighth inning, bringing in Mason Fluharty to face Josh Naylor instead of Tyler Rogers. Schneider said the move was based on the left-on-left matchup and managing Rogers’ workload. Fluharty later struck out Raleigh to end the threat.

Toronto then got an important defensive play from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the ninth inning, when he barehanded a difficult ground ball and threw to first for the out. Schneider said Guerrero’s impact has extended beyond his offensive production.

“Results are results, but the way you go about it, the way you swing at it, and how you help us win is what’s important right now,” Schneider said.

Toronto backed up that performance on Sunday, shutting out the Mariners 7-0 and closing to within 1.5 games of the final AL Wild Card spot.