Luis Castillo’s struggles continue as Seattle Mariners fall 5-2 to Blue Jays
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 08: Luis Castillo #58 of the Seattle Mariners pitches in the third inning during the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Monday, April 8, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Thomas Skrlj / MLB Photos / Getty Images)
TORONTO - José Berríos pitched 6 2/3 shutout innings, Davis Schneider hit a two-run single and the Toronto Blue Jays won their home opener Monday night, beating the Seattle Mariners 5-2.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had two hits and drove in a run as the Blue Jays won before a sellout crowd of 40,069 at their renovated stadium. The lower level of seats and both clubhouses were rebuilt over the offseason.
Berríos (2-0) allowed four hits, all singles, including three from Seattle’s Ty France. The right-hander walked one and matched a season-high by striking out six.
"José was awesome," Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. "We were really short in the ’pen today and he stepped up."
Toronto has won four of its past five home openers.
"All the hard work that we put into the offseason, now we’re seeing it out there on the field," Berríos said.
Blue Jays reliever Yimi Garcia struck out Dominic Canzone to strand France at first base to end the seventh inning.
Garcia got four outs, pitching around J.P. Crawford’s solo home run in the eighth. The homer was Crawford’s second.
Chad Green gave up Cal Raleigh’s solo home run in the ninth but closed out the game. Raleigh’s homer was his first.
Mariners right-hander Luis Castillo (0-3) lost for the third time in three starts this season, allowing four runs and nine hits in five innings. Castillo’s earned run average rose from 6.75 to 6.89.
"I’m not used to seeing him give up this many hits," Seattle manager Scott Servais said. "I think that’s the biggest thing."
Castillo’s 101 pitches were a season-high. He threw 99 in an April 2 loss to Cleveland.
"I’m working, I’m working hard," Castillo said through a translator. "Sometimes a thing doesn’t go your way, but the thing is it doesn’t last forever."
The Mariners have lost five of six.
"We’re not putting a full game together, either on the mound or at the plate," Servais said. "You’re not going to win many games unless you start doing that."
France went 3 for 4 after being activated off the paternity list before the game.
Toronto catcher Alejandro Kirk opened the scoring with an RBI single in the second and Schneider’s bases-loaded hit drove in two more in the third.
Home plate umpire CB Bucknor went down in pain after being struck on the face mask by Kirk’s foul tip in the second. Blue Jays trainer Jose Ministral came out to check on Bucknor, who stayed in the game.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mariners: Seattle placed RHP Cody Bolton on the 15-day injured list because of kidney stones. RHP Collin Snider went on the 15-day IL because of a left knee contusion.
Blue Jays: Manager John Schneider said 1B Joey Votto (right ankle) is hitting off a tee at Toronto’s spring training facility in Florida. Votto has been out since March 17, when he injured his ankle stepping on a bat on the dugout floor.
ROSTER MOVES
Seattle selected the contracts of RHPs Brett de Geus and Tyson Miller from Triple-A Tacoma. Utilityman Samad Taylor was optioned to Triple-A and RHP Ty Adcock was designated for assignment.
UP NEXT
Mariners RHP George Kirby (1-1, 5.23 ERA) is scheduled to start Tuesday against Blue Jays RHP Chris Bassitt (0-2, 7.71).