In total, Seattle's offense compiled 19 hits on the afternoon. Kyle Seager's three-run shot ignited a five-run sixth inning, while Shawn O'Malley, Norichika Aoki and Robinson Cano finished with three hits each to lead the Mariners to their fourth victory in their last five games.
Much like James Paxton on Friday, Hisashi Iwakuma conntained the Blue Jays' power-hitting lineup, limiting Toronto to just four hits and two runs over six innings. Iwakuma picked up a season-high fifth consecutive victory, holding opponents to two runs or less in four of those five outings.
After coming out of the All-Star break on a roll, Blue Jays starter R.A. Dickey struggled for a second consecutive start. The 41-year-old knuckleballer had his shortest outing as a Blue Jay and was pulled with the bases loaded and no one out in the fourth inning. Dickey allowed seven hits and six earned runs on the afternoon and has surrendered 11 total runs in his last two starts, both losses.
Cruz's grand slam
SEA@TOR: Cruz launches grand slam to center field
Nelson Cruz steps in with the bases loaded and crushes a grand slam to straightaway center field, giving the Mariners a 4-1 lead #PapaSlam
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
On the board with a bang: Cruz broke the game open in the third with his ninth career grand slam. The Mariners' designated hitter took Dickey's 2-1 pitch deep over the centre field wall for his 24th home run of the season, giving Seattle a 5-1 lead. Cruz ties the record for most career grand slams against the Blue Jays with three, equaling the mark set by a former Mariner, Alvin Davis.
Saunders keeps swinging: After going deep in his first game against his former team on Friday, Michael Saunders tied his career-high with two more home runs on Saturday. Saunders notched solo shots in the sixth inning off Iwakuma and eighth inning off former Blue Jays farmhand Wade LeBlanc to give the All-Star outfielder 19 on the season.
Saunders' two-homer day
SEA@TOR: Saunders hits two homers versus the Mariners
Michael Saunders goes to the opposite field for two home runs against the Mariners
Knockout punch: After Dickey loaded the bases for the second time in as many innings, Norichika Aoki drove in Leonys Martin with a single, ending Dickey's afternoon early. The Mariners added another run when Seth Smith grounded into a double play that brought in Chris Iannetta.
Roughed up: Blue Jays reliever Jesse Chavez endured his worst relief outing of the season on Saturday, allowing five earned runs in two-thirds of an inning. Chavez entered the game in the top of the sixth inning and allowed six hits -- including Seager's three-run home run. The 32-year-old entered Saturday's outing with a 3.25 ERA, but that number ballooned up to 4.42 after his difficult appearance.
Seager's two-run home run
SEA@TOR: Seager hits 19th homer, opens up huge lead
Kyle Seager crushes a long two-run home run to center field that opens up an 11-1 lead for the Mariners in the top of the 6th inning
UNDER REVIEW
The Blue Jays lost their challenge in the top of the sixth inning on a play at first off the bat of Shawn O'Malley. The Mariners' shortstop hit a slow roller towards third base, and first-base umpire Tim Timmons signaled that Josh Donaldson's throw to the bag was late. Blue Jays manager John Gibbons challenged the call, and replays confirmed the call on the field.
O'Malley's bunt single stands
SEA@TOR: O'Malley's bunt single stands after review
Shawn O'Malley is safe at first with a bunt single in the 6th, the Blue Jays challenge and after review the call stands
WHAT'S NEXT
Mariners: Wade Miley (6-7, 5.36 ERA) gets the ball on Sunday as the Mariners conclude a three-game series with the Blue Jays, first pitch goes at 10:07 a.m. PT. The lefty surrendered three earned runs on six hits over 6 1/3 innings while striking out four and walking three his last time out against the White Sox on Tuesday. Miley is 1-2 with a 6.98 ERA in four career starts against the Blue Jays.
Blue Jays: Former Mariner J.A. Happ (12-3, 3.43 ERA) squares off against his old team in the finale of Toronto's three game-series with Seattle. Happ was traded from the Mariners to the Pirates last season and will be making his start since the deal. The veteran left-hander will be looking to set a new career-high with his 13th win of the season. First pitch is set for 1:07 p.m. ET at Rogers Centre.
Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV.
Dhiren Mahiban is a contributor to MLB.com.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Cruz's slam, 7 RBIs leads Mariners in rout
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