Toronto Blue Jays' George Springer, centre, celebrates with Alejandro Kirk (30) after hitting a three-RBI home run as Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, right, looks on during the seventh inning of a baseball game on July 7 in Seattle.Jason Redmond/The Canadian Press
Daulton Varsho drove in the go-ahead with an RBI single in the top of the 10th inning, as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Seattle Mariners 5-4 on Sunday.
Varsho’s base-hit off Mariners reliever Collin Snider (0-1) with two outs drove in automatic runner Vladimir Guerrero Jr. from second base and sent the Blue Jays to a series victory over the Mariners, who have now dropped six consecutive series.
Chad Green (2-1) got the win. Genesis Cabrera pitched the 10th for his second save.
Mariners centre fielder Victor Robles got the scoring started with a leadoff solo homer off Blue Jays starter Jose Berrios in the third, but Toronto tied it in the fourth when Bo Bichette led off with a ground-rule double against Kirby, and scored on a one-out sacrifice fly from Alejandro Kirk.
Mitch Garver put Seattle back ahead in the fifth with a three-run homer, his 12th of the season, but George Springer tied the game with a three-run blast in the seventh off Mariners’ reliever Ryne Stanek.
Stanek came on in relief for Mariners’ starter George Kirby after Kirby allowed back to back singles. After Stanek struck out Kevin Kiermaier, Springer launched a fastball 400 feet to centre field to make it a 4-4 game.
Kirby gave up seven hits and three earned runs with eight strikeouts in six innings.
Jose Berrios allowed four earned runs and seven hit over six innings for the Blue Jays, with 10 strikeouts.
Blue Jays second baseman Leo Jimenez’ second inning single was his first MLB hit.
Mariners RHP Logan Gilbert was named to the American League All-Star team on Sunday for the first time in his MLB career. Gilbert has a 2.91 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 117 2/3 innings. His 14 quality starts are tied for most in the majors, while his 0.92 WHIP is the best in the AL.
Blue Jays’ left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (4-8, 4.12 ERA) will pitch Tuesday against Blake Snell when Toronto opens a three-game series in San Francisco.
NOTES: Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes was picked for the All-Star Game on Sunday just eight weeks after his debut, and the major league-leading Philadelphia Phillies had a big league-high seven selections. Skenes, who turned 22 in May, was selected by the Pirates as the top pick in last year’s amateur draft, two days before the All-Star Game in Seattle. He made his first big league start on May 11 and is 5-0 with a 2.12 ERA in 10 starts and 78 strikeouts in 59 1/3 innings. He has thrown 74 pitches of 100 mph or more. Skenes’ final outing before the All-Star break is likely to be midweek, so he could be a possibility to start for the National League. Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga joined Skenes and San Diego outfielder Jackson Merrill as the only rookie All-Stars for the July 16 game at Arlington, Tex.