Castillo dominates for 6 2/3 innings, Raley has 2-run double in Mariners' 2-1 win over Blue Jays
![Luis Castillo Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter during the second inning in a baseball game, Friday, July 5, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2024/7/6/luis-castillo-1-6953941-1720264522691.jpg)
Luis Castillo limited Toronto to two hits over a dominant 6 2/3 innings, Luke Raley had a two-run double in the third and the Seattle Mariners beat the Blue Jays 2-1 on Friday night.
Castillo (7-9) was nearly untouchable in his 200th career start, retiring each of the first nine Blue Jays hitters, and not allowing a hit until Kevin Kiermaier hit a solo home run with one out in the sixth.
Castillo’s only blemish before Kiermaier’s homer was a leadoff walk to Toronto first baseman Spencer Horwitz in the fourth inning.
After Kiermaier made it one-run game with a 379-foot shot to right field, Horwitz quickly hit a single back up the middle for Toronto’s final hit of the night. But Castillo escaped trouble, with Bo Bichette hitting into an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play.
Castillo departed to a standing ovation after walking Daulton Varsho in the seventh, having allowed one run on two hits, with eight strikeouts.
A big reason for Castillo's success was a new grip for his slider, which made his already tough pitch come in a few miles per hour slower than usual and threw Toronto's hitters off-balance.
“It helps a lot, the fastball coming in around 96, 97, and that changeup coming in around 85," Castillo said. "But then this new slider that I've got coming in even slower, it gives me three different varieties of speed to play with. It just keeps them on their toes.”
Austin Voth and Ryne Stanek combined for 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief, and Andrés Muñoz pitched the ninth for his 14th save.
“These guys pitch,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “They're up there with the best arms in the league. There weren't many opportunities."
The Mariners struck first when Raley clubbed the double off Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman (6-8) in the third.
Cal Raleigh drew a two-out walk, and Julio Rodríguez reached base on an infield single. Rodríguez was originally called out on a throw from third baseman Ernie Clement, but the call was overturned on replay.
Manager Scott Servais credited replay coordinator Andy Bissell for seeing that Horwitz had come off the bag, which put Rodríguez aboard and kick-started the rally.
“It turned out to be a huge call in the game tonight,” Servais said. “Hats off to (Bissell). That is a tough job. It happens super fast and he’s on top of it and helped us win a game tonight,”
One batter later, Raley hit a fastball to the left-center field gap to put the Mariners up 2-0.
“It’s important for us to start getting some guys in and scoring some runs for our pitchers,” Raley said. “Even two runs, we still need to keep putting up more runs, but it’s nice the last two days to see us break through and get a couple of those big hits.”
Gausman finished with two earned runs allowed on six hits over six innings, with 10 strikeouts.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: SS Bo Bichette was back in the lineup Friday after being scratched Thursday with a right forearm contusion … RHP Yimi Garcia (elbow) will make a rehab start on Saturday in Triple-A Buffalo.
Mariners: RHP Bryan Woo (hamstring) will make a rehab start in Single-A Everett on Saturday, while RHP Gregory Santos will make an Everett rehab appearance in relief.
ROSTER MOVE
Toronto recalled RHP Ryan Burr from Triple-A Buffalo, and optioned RHP Jose Cuas.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays RHP Yariel Rodríguez (0-3, 4.63 ERA) will start Friday against RHP Emerson Hancock (3-3, 4.79 ERA).
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.7027051.1725573856!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Girl, 15, set on fire in assault at Saskatoon high school: police
A 15-year-old girl was set on fire in an assault at Saskatoon's Evan Hardy Collegiate Thursday afternoon, police say.
Liberal national campaign director says he will step down
Embattled Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his governing Liberals have taken another hit with Jeremy Broadhurst quitting his job as national campaign director for the party.
Father of Georgia school shooting suspect arrested on charges including second-degree murder
The father of the teenager accused of opening fire at a Georgia high school, killing four people and wounding nine, was arrested on various charges including second-degree murder, authorities said Thursday.
Toronto couple pushes for change after dog attacked by pack of coyotes
It started like any other night for Mary and Doug Youngson: a walk at their neighbourhood park with their rescue dogs, Mai Tai and Kahlua. But when the couple looked around, they say a pack of eight coyotes surrounded them, picked Kahlua up and ran off with him.
A Canadian airline is changing its check-in deadline for all flights. Here's why
Travellers will have to check in 15 minutes earlier than usual according to Air Canada's new cutoff time for all flights.
Man dies after surgeon removed wrong organ at Florida hospital, lawyer says
The lawyer of a woman whose husband died at a Florida hospital says the surgeon removed the wrong organ.
Conservative cuts? Party to share platform 'closer to the next election,' Scheer says
Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer says Canadians will have to wait until 'closer' to the next federal election to learn about the party's platform.
Student convicted of killing classmate in Leduc gets life in prison without parole for 12 years
The man who fatally stabbed a classmate at his Leduc high school in 2021 was sentenced to life in prison with no parole eligibility for 12 years on Thursday.
Murder, aggravated assault charges laid in Vancouver stranger attacks
Charges of murder and aggravated assault in a pair of brutal stranger attacks in downtown Vancouver were approved Thursday, one day after the rush-hour rampage left one man dead and another with a severed hand.