Seattle Mariners designated hitter Nelson Cruz (23) grounds out in the sixth inning to drive in a run against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. The Mariners won 14-5. Photo Credit: Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports
TORONTO — Nelson Cruz hit a grand slam and a three-run homer, Kyle Seager hit a two-run blast, Hisashi Iwakuma allowed two runs in seven innings and the Seattle Mariners defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 14-5 on Saturday afternoon.
Cruz hit his ninth career grand slam against R.A. Dickey in the third and added a three-run shot against Drew Storen in the eighth for seven RBIs in the game.
Iwakuma (11-6) allowed four hits and three walks while striking out three in winning his fifth straight start beginning June 28.
The Mariners (50-47) are 5-3 since the All-Star break and have won the first two games of the three-game series and will go for the sweep Sunday. They are 15-6 against team from the American League East this season.
The Blue Jays (54-44), who were outhit 19-8, are 3-4 since the break.
Dickey (7-11) allowed seven hits, two walks and six runs in three-plus innings. The right-handed knuckleballer hit two batters and struck out three.
Michael Saunders hit two solo homers for the Blue Jays to give him 19 for the season and three in the series against his former team.
Saunders’ first homer came in the sixth against Iwakuma and his second came in the eighth against left-hander Wade LeBlanc. Justin Smoak hit his 11th homer of the season in the eighth, a two-run shot against LeBlanc, who pitched the final three innings to pick up his first save of the season.
The Blue Jays took a 1-0 lead in the second on a sacrifice fly by Josh Thole. The fly to moderate left scored Kevin Pillar who walked with one out and took third on a single by Devon Travis.
Cruz hit his 24th homer of the season in the third after the Mariners loaded with bases with one out on an infield single by Shawn O’Malley, who was forced at second on a grounder by Norichika Aoki, and two hit batters, Seth Smith and Robinson Cano.
Dickey loaded the bases again in the fourth. Leonys Martin singled to left, Chris Iannetta walked and O’Malley hit an infield single to shortstop. Aoki lined an RBI single off the glove of shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.
Left-hander Franklin Morales replaced Dickey and got a double play grounder from Smith that allowed another run to score to give Seattle a 6-1 lead. The inning ended on Cano’s pop foul to the catcher.
The Mariners scored five runs against Jesse Chavez in the sixth. Iannetta led off with a double, O’Malley beat out a bunt single to third and Aoki and Smith hit an RBI singles to right. Cano loaded the bases with a single.
Another run scored when Cruz grounded into a double play. Seager followed with his 19th homer of the season to put Seattle ahead 11-1. Bo Schultz replaced Chavez.
NOTES: Seattle recalled LHP David Rollins from Triple-A Tacoma after placing SS Ketel Marte (mononucleosis) on the disabled list. Rollins was optioned to Tacoma Wednesday when RHP Felix Hernandez was reinstated from the DL. … Toronto OF Ezequiel Carrera returned to the starting lineup Saturday for the first time since July 16. He has been resting a sore Achilles tendon, returning to strike out as a pinch hitter Friday. … Blue Jays RF Jose Bautista (turf toe) was 0-for-3 for Triple-A Buffalo on Friday, the second game of his rehabilitation assignment. He was 1-for-3 with a homer with Class A Dunedin on Wednesday. He has not played since June 16 and is scheduled to rejoin Toronto on Monday. … Seattle LHP Wade Miley (6-7, 5.36 ERA) will face Toronto LHP J.A. Happ (12-3, 3.43 ERA) in the finale of the three-game series Sunday.
