Game #36 Seattle Mariners (20-14) @ Toronto Blue Jays (19-17) - game recap

Canadian James Paxton threw a no-hitter as the Seattle Mariners defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 5-0

The Blue Jays started a 6 game home stand tonight vs. the Seattle Mariners. Canadian James Paxton was on the mound for the Mariners. Unfortunately Blue Jays fans will not see Ichiro this series, who is transitioning to the front office in a consulting role. Closer Roberto Osuna will be away from the team for the foreseeable future after he was placed on administrative leave for a domestic dispute with his girlfriend. Finally, Aledmys Diaz  was placed on the 10 day DL with that sprained ankle. He'll likely be out until the end of the month. Here is today's game recap.

Game highlights:

• The Mariners opened the scoring on a Robinson Cano ground out that scored Ben Gamel
• The next batter Nelson Cruz singled home Dee Gordon to double the lead
• Mariners catcher Mike Zunino hit an opposite-field 2 run HR that also scored Ryon Healy in the top of the 4th to double the Mariner lead
• Cano scored on a sac fly by Mitch Hanigar in the top of the 5th
• Marcus Stroman pitching line: 5IP 9H 5R (all earned) 2BB 2K 88 pitches (53 for strikes)
• James Paxton pitching line: CG 0H 0R 3BB 7K 99 pitches (64 for strikes)
• Final Score: Mariners 5 Blue Jays 0

My take:

• What can you say about this game? James Paxton was on tonight. He certainly got help from the defense. Kevin Pillar was robbed of an extra base hit by the glove of Kyle Seagar. LF Ben Gamel made a great catch against the wall on Russell Martin leading off the 8th. The next batter Kendrys Morales cracked a line drive that was caught by Dee Gordon. First baseman Ryon Healy saved the infield with a couple of nice digs at first base. It was Pillar or Martin who came closest to getting a hit.
• The Toronto Blue Jays were last no-hit almost exactly 7 years ago by some star pitcher named Justin Verlander on May 7, 2011.
• Marcus Stroman battled through five innings today. Stroman's only clean inning was the 1st inning. Every other inning the Mariners had at least 2 runners on base. Someone posted in the game thread a stat that shows Stroman gets hit hardest with runners on base. Perhaps he needs to throw from the stretch during his bullpen sessions and throw days. At this point, Stroman is kind of proving the Blue Jays right to criticize him during the arbitration process in January. If he wants the big bucks, he needs to pitch better than he has
• Up next, the Blue Jays will be looking to get a hit (and maybe a run and a win) against Mariners lefty Wade LeBlanc. The Blue Jays will counter with fellow southpaw Jaimie Garcia