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Instant Reaction: Blue Jays inch closer to playoff spot with comeback victory over Mariners
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Photo credit: © Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Aug 29, 2026, 19:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 29, 2026, 19:03 EDT
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Just like that, the Toronto Blue Jays have pulled us back in.
On Saturday afternoon, the Blue Jays defeated the Seattle Mariners by a score of 4-3, overcoming a 3-0 deficit. With the win, the Blue Jays move to 67-70 and are just a game and a half behind the Cleveland Guardians for the final wild card spot. Let’s take a look at what went on in this one!
The Mariners opened the scoring in the top of the second. On an 0-1 pitch, Cal Raleigh hit a solo home run off José Soriano. Two innings later, they extended their lead to 3-0 as the Mariners started a rally with two outs that was capped off by a single.
But then the Blue Jays woke up in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Myles Straw singled, followed by Brett Bateman drawing a walk. Eduard Bazardo replaced Kade Anderson and struck out Alejandro Kirk. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drew a walk, as did George Springer to load the bases. Well, not quite, as the ball got away from Raleigh and Bateman raced home from second on the wild pitch.
Bazardo forced a fly out, but the Blue Jays had all the momentum, which carried into the bottom of the sixth. With José A. Ferrer on the mound, Charles McAdoo drew a lead-off walk, followed by two outs. Straw drew a walk to bring up Bateman, who hit an RBI single. Next up was Kirk, who also hit an RBI single to put the Jays up 4-3.
Soriano finished strong and the Blue Jays’ bullpen weathered some traffic to pick up their second consecutive win, and their first series win since their visit to St. Petersburg.

Takeaways…

Buck Martinez was inducted to the team’s Hall of Excellence, so the vibes were great entering Saturday’s game. The win sees the Blue Jays move to a game and a half behind the Cleveland Guardians for the final wild card spot, with the two teams playing a three game series beginning on Tuesday.
As for this game, two of the three earned runs José Soriano surrendered came in the fourth, as Canadian Josh Naylor just hooked a ball fair with two outs. Back-to-back walks brought up Taylor Ward, who hit a two-RBI single. Thankfully, he dialed in from there, going seven innings and striking out six.
Tyler Rogers came out for the top of the eighth, getting the first two outs. After a walk, the Jays turned to Mason Fluharty to face Naylor, a lefty. He allowed a single to put runners on the corner, but Fluharty struck out Cal Raleigh to end the inning. Louis Varland came in for the ninth and secured his 31st save of the season.
It wasn’t the Blue Jays’ best day offensively, mustering just five hits. Only one was an extra-base hit, as George Springer hit his 18th double of the season, but was left stranded. Myles Straw had a two-hit game at the bottom of the lineup.
The other two hits the Jays had were crucial. Brett Bateman tied the game thanks to an RBI single, managing to poke it through the infield on a 1-2 pitch. That brought up Alejandro Kirk, who blooped the ball for the game-winning run.
What won them this game was excellent base running. It started with Bateman scoring from second base on a wild pitch ball four. With the pitcher rattled, Springer stole second, but was stranded there again. Then in the bottom of the sixth, Kirk stole second base after putting the Jays ahead, his second career stolen base.
It’s been over two months since the Blue Jays last swept a series. They’ll have a chance to do so on Sunday afternoon, as the series finale begins at 1:37 PM ET. Starting for the Blue Jays is Max Scherzer, who is up against Logan Gilbert.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, DFOEdmonton, and DFOCalgary. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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