TORONTO — TORONTO — Two big swings by Logan Morrison sent Seattle into the final weekend of the season with a small chance to make the playoffs.
Morrison homered twice, Mike Zunino also connected and the Mariners beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-5 on Thursday night.
“We’re still in the ring, still fighting,” Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon said.
The Mariners trail Oakland by two games for the AL’s second wild card heading into a weekend series against the Los Angeles Angels. The A’s lost 2-1 to Texas on Thursday night.
“With a win, we know we still have hope,” Zunino said. “Tough series against the Angels but I think we’re ready for it and looking forward to playing them.”
The Angels have already clinched the AL West title but are battling Baltimore for the best record in the AL and home-field advantage in the playoffs.
“A lot of teams wish they were in our position,” McClendon said. “As dire as it may look, there’s teams that wish they were in the Seattle Mariners’ shoes right now.”
Morrison hit a three-run drive off Todd Redmond in the fourth and a solo shot off Aaron Loup (4-4) in the sixth, helping the Mariners avoid a four-game sweep. Seattle also snapped a five-game losing streak.
“He came up real big for us today when we needed it most,” McClendon said.
Each of Morrison’s past six homers have either tied the score or given the Mariners a lead.
It was Morrison’s second career multihomer game. Five of his 11 home runs this season have come in September.
“Obviously, playing every day has helped my timing,” Morrison said. “I know this is the type of player I can be.”
Yoervis Medina (5-3) worked one inning for the win and Fernando Rodney, the ninth Seattle pitcher, gave up Kevin Pillar’s leadoff homer in the ninth before finishing for his 47th save in 50 chances.
Toronto took a 2-0 lead against Tom Wilhelmsen in the second inning, but the Mariners answered with a four-run fourth. Chris Taylor led off with a bunt single for Seattle’s first hit of the game and left-hander Daniel Norris departed after a one-out walk to Kendrys Morales.
Redmond came on and gave up an RBI single to Kyle Seager. Morrison then drove Redmond’s next pitch into the center-field seats. The outburst snapped an 18-inning scoreless drought for the Mariners.
The Blue Jays tied it in the fifth on Edwin Encarnacion’s sacrifice fly and Adam Lind’s RBI single, but Morrison led off the sixth with a homer into the right-field bullpen. One out later, Zunino drilled a Dustin McGowan pitch into the left-field bullpen for his 22nd home run.
Seager made it 7-4 with an RBI single off Brandon Morrow in the seventh.
ROAD WARRIORS
Seattle finished 46-35 on the road for the second-best mark in team history. The Mariners posted 59 road victories in 2001.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Seattle’s Robinson Cano hit his 37th double in the ninth. He’s the only player in baseball to record 35 doubles or more in each of the past nine seasons.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mariners: 2B Robinson Cano started at DH Thursday to give his legs a break after three consecutive games on Toronto’s artificial turf.
Blue Jays: OF Jose Bautista and SS Jose Reyes got the day off.
UP NEXT
Seattle returns home Friday to begin a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels. RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (14-9) faces Angels RHP Jered Weaver (18-8). Iwakuma has lost his past three starts, allowing 15 ER in 12 IP.
