SEATTLE – John Jaso hit the go-ahead single in the sixth inning and Blake Beavan's 7 2-3 strong innings led the Mariners to their seventh consecutive victory, 5-3 over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night.
The winning streak is Seattle's longest since an eight-game run June 23-July 1, 2011.
Beavan (7-6) gave up three runs and seven hits. He threw 82 pitches and struck out four. He is undefeated (4-0) since being recalled from Triple-A Tacoma July 17.
Toronto starter Carlos Villanueva (6-1) threw six innings, allowed seven hits, four earned runs and struck out six. He went 4-0 and allowed just five earned runs in July
Tom Wilhelmsen pitched the ninth for his 15th save.
Two days after being acquired from the Blue Jays for reliever Steve Delabar, Eric Thames' two-run homer to center field off Villanueva drove in Mike Carp and tied the score at 3 in the fifth.
Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik said Thames had "some thump in his bat" when he was acquired. Thames quickly proved his new boss correct with his fourth homer of the year.
Jaso's two-out single to center scored Michael Saunders and gave Seattle a 4-3 sixth-inning lead. Kyle Seager singled to put runners at first and third, but Casper Wells grounded out to shortstop to end the inning.
Brendan Ryan doubled and a broken-bat bloop to left field by Dustin Ackley scored him for a 5-3 Mariners lead in the seventh.
Villanueva was perfect through the first three innings. He struck out two and picked up four fly ball outs to center field. None of the Mariners made strong contact.
Beavan was almost as staunch while throwing 19 of his first 23 pitches for strikes. He allowed just Colby Rasmus' home run, then retired eight consecutive before Rasmus singled to lead-off the fourth inning. Rasmus went 2- for- 4.
Edwin Encarnacion followed Rasmus by grounding into a 5-4-3 double play. Ackley did well to turn it with Rasmus sliding high and late into him. It was crucial since the next batter, Kelly Johnson, homered to center, putting the Blue Jays ahead 2-0.
Two of the first three hits Beavan allowed were home runs.
Jeff Mathis' sacrifice fly to deep center scored David Cooper, who had doubled, to push Toronto up 3-1 in the fifth. The Blue Jays ran themselves out of what could have been a big inning when rookie Anthony Gose broke for second but lead runner Rajai Davis did not attempt to steal. Davis eventually was tagged out in a rundown and left Rasmus standing at the plate.
Ackley produced Seattle's first hit in the fourth with a single up the middle. Saunders followed with a single, but Jesus Montero grounded into a double play, during which Ackley scored to pull the Mariners within 2-1.
Rasmus was 1-for-12 OVER his last three games before hitting the first pitch he saw Wednesday, the second pitch of the game, into the stands in right field for his 19th homer.
Blue Jays manager John Farrell said pregame pitchers had found a hole inside, under the hands of Rasmus and he needed to adjust. Beavan threw a fastball there and Rasmus was able to hit it for a home run.
Toronto reliever Brad Lincoln made his debut in the seventh inning. He threw 1 ? innings without allowing a baserunner.
NOTES: Toronto OF Jose Bautista took more swings off a tee Wednesday, as he tries to come back from left wrist inflammation which placed him on the 15-day DL: July 17. . Mariners LHP reliever Charlie Furbush threw a bullpen session Wednesday. Seattle plans to send him to Triple-A Tacoma to begin rehab assignments. Furbush was placed on the 15-day DL July 18 because of a strained left triceps. . Seattl1e OF Franklin Gutierrez is still having headaches, the effects of a concussion on June 29. There is no timetable for his return.
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