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TORONTO – Right-handed pitcher Bowden Francis delivered a solid performance, allowing just one run over six innings, helping the Toronto Blue Jays secure a 3-1 victory against the Seattle Mariners in the first game of a three-game series. George Springer stood out with two hits and crossed home plate twice for the Blue Jays during the game.
Francis (2-2) struck out five opponents while giving up five hits and issuing one walk, completing his outing in just 77 pitches before an audience of 40,263 at Rogers Centre. This victory marked the Blue Jays’ third consecutive win, putting them at a record of 12-8, while it ended the Mariners’ two-game winning streak, bringing their record to 10-10.
Springer began the scoring for the Blue Jays in the second inning with a single and later contributed a double in the fourth. He initially scored on a sacrifice fly by Alan Roden and returned to home plate following Alejandro Kirk’s single that found its way to center field.
Anthony Santander added to the Blue Jays’ lead by hitting a sacrifice fly that brought Bo Bichette home in the first inning, establishing Toronto’s early 1-0 advantage.
Mariners’ starting pitcher Bryan Woo (2-1) pitched through seven innings, giving up three runs along with seven hits, while striking out four and walking two. The Blue Jays’ bullpen—composed of Mason Fluharty, Chad Green, Yimi Garcia, and Jeff Hoffman—effectively shut out the Mariners over the final three innings. Hoffman secured his fifth save of the season with a flawless ninth inning.
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The Mariners posed a potential threat in the fifth inning with runners on first and second base and no outs, but Blue Jays right-fielder Addison Barger made a pivotal play, throwing out Rowdy Tellez at third base during a tag-up attempt, resulting in a critical double play. This marked Barger’s second assist of the game.
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Interestingly, the Blue Jays currently find themselves just one win ahead of last year’s pace, when they stood at 11-9 after 20 games.
Looking ahead, Jose Berrios (1-1) is slated to start the next game in this series on Saturday, with Seattle countering by sending 6-foot-6 right-hander Logan Gilbert (1-1) to the mound.
This report summarizes the events of April 18, 2025, during the Toronto Blue Jays’ match against the Seattle Mariners.
Source
globalnews.ca