Mariners vs. Blue Jays score, takeaways: Luis Castillo stars as Seattle wins Game 1 after 21-year playoff wait

The Seattle Mariners performed of their first postseason recreation since 2001 on Friday, defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 4-0 (field rating) to stake out a 1-0 lead within the best-of-three American League Wild Card Sequence.

Listed here are 4 issues to know concerning the Mariners’ victory, which leaves them a win away from advancing to the League Division Sequence in opposition to the Houston Astros.

Seattle struck early

When you thought the Mariners can be apprehensive within the early going as they engaged in postseason baseball for the primary time in twenty years, nicely, a lot for that. 

Seattle tremendous rookie Julio Rodríguez, the third youngest rookie in AL historical past to bat leadoff in a playoff recreation, was hit by a pitch to steer off the sport. He’d advance to second base on a groundout earlier than scoring on a Eugenio Suárez double. Suárez’s double plated the primary first-inning run scored in opposition to Blue Jays starter Alek Manoah in 16 begins at dwelling this season, according to MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer.

The Mariners weren’t performed there, both. Cal Raleigh subsequently swatted a two-run homer to provide Seattle a 3-0 lead earlier than the Blue Jays had an opportunity to bat. By the point the highest of the primary inning concluded, the Mariners had a 75 p.c win expectancy.

Castillo cruises; Manoah scuffles

To Manoah’s credit score, he did pitch higher after that prolonged first inning. Certainly, he escaped one other jam within the second inning earlier than retiring 9 consecutive batters. 

Manoah surrendered one other run within the fifth inning (Rodríguez crossed the plate once more, this time on a fielder’s alternative), permitting Seattle to take a 4-0 lead, however he completed his afternoon with a line consisting of 5 2/3 innings pitched, 4 runs on 4 hits and a stroll, and 4 strikeouts. 

It wasn’t the form of dominant efficiency the Blue Jays have grown accustomed to receiving from Manoah, however it may’ve been loads worse primarily based on how the early innings unfolded. 

Manoah’s counterpart, Luis Castillo, comparatively had himself a breezy afternoon on the workplace. In what served as simply his second profession postseason begin (and his first since 2020), he threw 7 1/3 shutout innings on 108 pitches.

Castillo sprinkled six hits over the course of these seven innings, stranding a pair of runners in each the third and fifth innings. He did not stroll anybody, although he did hit George Springer within the wrist with a pitch earlier than departing within the eighth. He struck out 5 batters and coerced floor balls on 10 of his 17 batted balls.

First Mariners playoff victory since 2001

As famous within the introduction, the Mariners snapped the majors’ longest lively playoff drought on Friday, showing of their first playoff recreation since October 22, 2001.

The Mariners’ most up-to-date playoff win previous to Friday occurred on October 20, 2001. For perspective, the profitable pitcher in that recreation was Jamie Moyer and the Mariners’ lineup featured Brett Boone, David Bell, and Jay Buhner, to not point out Ichiro Suzuki and Edgar Martinez.

Subsequent: Recreation 2 Saturday

The Mariners can punch their ticket to the League Division Sequence in opposition to the Houston Astros on Saturday with a victory in Recreation 2. The Blue Jays, in the meantime, can hold their very own development aspirations alive with a win that might pressure Recreation 3 on Sunday.

Robbie Ray, a former Blue Jay and the reigning AL Cy Younger Award winner, is predicted to get the nod for the Mariners. Toronto figures to counter with Kevin Gausman.

Recreation 2 is scheduled to begin at 4:07 p.m. ET.