Mariners hope for much-needed win over Blue Jays

(SportsNetwork.com) - The Seattle Mariners are on the brink of elimination. They'll try to stop a five-game losing streak and keep their fading postseason hopes alive on Thursday in the finale of a four-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

"I told 'em to keep their heads up and get ready to play," Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon. "We're still in it. We're still standing. I've seen stranger things happen. We just need to go out and win and let the rest take care of itself."

Seattle's woes continued on Wednesday, as Ryan Goins hit an RBI bloop single in the eighth inning, Mark Buehrle worked into the ninth to reach the 200 plateau once again, and the Blue Jays held on for a 1-0 win.

Baserunners were rare against Buehrle and Seattle starter Taijuan Walker, who combined to give up just seven hits and two walks.

Buehrle stayed in for the ninth, but was lifted after giving up a leadoff hit to Chris Taylor. Pinch-runner James Jones was then picked off on a quick move to first base by Aaron Sanchez, who got two more quick outs to seal the win.

Buehrle (13-10) struck out 10 batters, walked one and gave up three hits while reaching 202 innings for the season. The 35-year-old lefty has hit the mark in each of his 15 MLB seasons except the first, in 2000, when he pitched mostly out of the bullpen for the White Sox.

It was only Buehrle's second victory in his last 10 trips to the mound at the end of a season he started 10-1.

"He was as good as you're ever going to see him -- as good as we've seen him," said Blue Jays manager John Gibbons. "His ball was really ducking and darting in there. He felt strong."

Seattle is now three games back of the second wild card spot in the AL with four games to play.

"We needed to win," Walker said. "It's tough right now."

Now, they'll turn to reliever Tom Wilhelmsen and go with a bullpen-by- committee effort. Chris Young had been pegged to go, but was rocked for seven runs in just three-plus innings on Saturday in Houston.

Wilhelmsen has been outstanding in relief this year with a 2.10 ERA in 77 innings over 55 appearances. The former closer has converted into more of a long reliever with 16 of his outings lasting two innings or more, though he hasn't gone more than 1 1/3 innings or 25 pitches since Aug. 10.

He also made a spot start earlier in the year and lost to the Minnesota Twins.

Daniel Norris will make his first major league start on Thursday for the Blue Jays in place of suspended rookie Marcus Stroman. Norris has made three relief appearances since he was recalled at the start of September and has pitched to a 5.40 ERA without a decision.

He will likely be limited to three innings.

The Mariners swept the Blue Jays in three games from Aug. 11-13 in Seattle.