Home runs sink Blue Jays in finale vs. Mariners

SEATTLE -- The Blue Jays were not able to keep the Mariner bats quiet on Sunday, dropping the final game of their road trip, 6-3.
Reliever Joe Biagini was unable come up with a shutdown inning after Toronto tied the game in the top of the seventh. He allowed three runs on back-to-back homers by Nelson Cruz and Kyle Seager in the bottom of the frame, marking the first time the Mariners had scored more than four runs in a game since July 29.
"Joe just threw some pitches that were thigh-high, right in the middle of the plate it looked like -- you get burned that way," said manager John Gibbons. "[Seager]'s dangerous, and Cruz is still one of the best hitters in the game, best run producers. Those guys are valuable."

Starting pitcher Sam Gaviglio made his way through 5 2/3 innings pitched, allowing three runs and striking out seven. He, too, allowed a homer to Seager, who came up with his eighth career multi-homer game. Entering the game, Seager was batting just .182 since July 5.
The start still represented a step forward from Gaviglio's last outing, when he allowed five runs over 2 2/3 innings in Oakland. Gaviglio said he had better fastball command and a sharper slider, in part due to some mechanical adjustments.
"I think I was kind of falling back on my heel instead of staying over my toes going down the mound," Gaviglio said. "[Today] I was just able to finish my pitches, and it made it easier."

With the loss, the Blue Jays fell one win short of the first four-game sweep in Seattle in club history.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Diaz barreled a two-run shot in the top of the seventh that tied the game at three apiece. The ball left the bat at 103 mph with a launch angle of 31 degrees per Statcast™.
After a 3-for-4 day on Sunday, Diaz finished the series going 7-for-13 with three homers, two doubles and five RBIs.

"Playing every day gives you a little bit more confidence," Diaz said through an interpreter. "I've been swinging at good pitches. I've been a little bit more confident and putting good wood on good pitches."
YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
With two on in the third, Devon Travis roped a 103 mph liner straight to Seager at third, who snagged the ball and threw to second in time to double off Kevin Pillar. The knock had a hit probability of 66 percent, per Statcast™.

"Devon hit a screamer to third," Gibbons said. "That ball gets down the corner, you never know what happens."
UP NEXT
The Blue Jays will get a day off before hosting the Red Sox on Tuesday at 7:07 p.m. ET. Marcus Stroman (4-8, 5.63 ERA) will get the ball following one of his shakiest starts of 2018, allowing seven runs in five innings vs. the A's. The Red Sox will counter with Drew Pomeranz (1-5, 6.56), who took a loss last time out in a close game against the Phillies, 3-1.