The Toronto Blue Jays are 10 games under .500 following a 2-1 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Friday.

The many Western Canadian fans who made the trip to T-Mobile park in Seattle were treated to a tight game in this weekend’s series opener but the Blue Jays mustered just one run on two hits against Luis Castillo and the Mariners’ bullpen.

Kevin Gausman got the start for the Blue Jays and had a strong outing. The righty went six innings and allowed two earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out 10 batters. Both of Seattle’s runs came in the third inning when Cal Raleigh drew a walk, Julio Rodriguez hit an infield single, and Luke Raley drove in both runners with a double.

Raley had a two-RBI double robbed from him back in the first inning. Mitch Garver reached on a fielding error at third base, Raleigh singled, and then Raley smashed a ball to deep left-centre field that Daulton Varsho was somehow able to track down before slamming into the wall.

Virtually all of Toronto’s offence came during the sixth inning. Kevin Kiermaier hit a solo home run to break up Castillo’s no-hit and shutout at the same time. Spencer Horwitz followed that up with a single to put the tying run on first base but Bo Bichette ended the rally with a ground ball that was turned for a double play.

Up next… The Blue Jays and Mariners will play the second game of this series on Saturday afternoon. Yariel Rodriguez will take the mound for the Blue Jays looking to build on the excellent start that he had in a losing effort against the Houston Astros on Canada Day. The Mariners will send right-hander Emerson Hancock to the mound, who has a 4.79 ERA over eight appearances this season.