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Blue Jays drop opener despite quality Estrada
- Updated: July 23, 2016
TORONTO — James Paxton stole the show and had a night to remember at Rogers Centre on Friday, as the left-hander struck out nine Blue Jays and helped the Mariners take the first game of their weekend series, 2-1.
Paxton kept Toronto off balance all night, surrendering just three hits over seven innings. The nine strikeouts were one off a career-high for the 27-year-old southpaw, who helped the Mariners open their eight-game road trip on a high note.
Coming off a performance in which he allowed nine hits and six runs against the Astros, Paxton spotted his fastball, while using his curveball against the Blue Jays’ right-handed heavy lineup. A native of Ladner, British Columbia, the Canadian left-hander walked one batter and needed 97 pitches to cruise through seven innings, allowing only Michael Saunders’ second inning home run to cross the plate.
Activated from the disabled list prior to the game, Estrada made his first start in over three weeks and battled for six innings. The finesse right-hander — who entered play allowing a league-best .173 opponents’ batting average — allowed seven hits and hit two batters but limited the Mariners to two earned runs and worked out of trouble all night. The 33-year-old gave up a run in the first inning on a forceout by Robinson Cano and allowed a softly-hit RBI double by Seth Smith in the fifth.
MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDStranded in the sixth: It looked as though the Mariners would blow the game open in the …
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