Aug 29, 2026 11:22 PM
Updated Aug 30, 2026 5:31 PM

The Blue Jays honored Buck Martinez pregame, and then used some magic late to beat the Seattle Mariners for a second straight day.

TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays used some late-game magic on Saturday afternoon to beat the Seattle Mariners for a second straight day at Rogers Centre, topping the M's 4-3 in the middle game of a three-game set.

The Blue Jays will go for the sweep on Sunday afternoon (1:37 p.m. ET).

With the win, Toronto is now 67-70, creeping back to .500. The win, coupled with another Cleveland loss, has them at just 1.5 games back in the battle for the third and final wild card spot.

How it happened

The Blue Jays got down 1-0 in the second inning as Cal Raleigh continued his domination north of the border. The Mariners catcher clubbed his 19th homer of the season, which also happens to be his 11th home run at Rogers Centre (including playoffs).

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Toronto got down 3-0 in the fourth inning when Taylor Ward singled home two runs.

However, the Jays answered back in the fifth inning on a series of Mariners mistakes.

Rookie starter Kade Anderson struck out Daz Cameron to start the inning before giving up a single to Myles Straw and a walk to Brett Bateman.

Anderson was removed in favor of Eduard Bazardo, who struck out Alejandro Kirk for the second out. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. then walked to load the bases and George Springer walked to score the first run, but Bateman scored too as the pitch got away from Bazardo.

Buck Martinez walks to the podium during a pregame celebration before a game between the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners at Rogers Centre. Kevin Sousa-Imagn ImageBuck Martinez walks to the podium during a pregame celebration before a game between the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners at Rogers Centre. Kevin Sousa-Imagn Image

In the sixth, trailing 3-2, the Jays capitalized on two Jose Ferrer walks to take a 4-3 lead, with Kirk's single breaking a 3-3 tie.

The Mariners threatened in the eighth inning, but Raleigh struck out with two outs and two on against Mason Fluharty.

Before the game

Before the game, the Blue Jays unveiled their new "Hall of Excellence," by inducting former catcher/manager/broadcaster Buck Martinez into the Hall of Excellence.

With several members of the previous "Level of Excellence" on hand, Martinez delivered an excellent speech, speaking about the importance of family and how Toronto, the Blue Jays and the fans changed his life.

Martinez spent 17 years in the big leagues as a catcher with the Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers and Blue Jays. In total, he was a .225 hitter with 58 home runs. In six years with the Jays, he hit .222 with 35 homers. He managed the Blue Jays for parts of two seasons (2000-01), going 100-115. The Jays went 80-82 in his only full season in 2000.

Martinez worked four World Baseball Classics as a broadcaster, also calling games nationally for ESPN. In addition to his work with the Blue Jays, he called games for the Baltimore Orioles from 2003-09. He won a Sports Emmy in 1995.

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