Castillo, Mariners silence Blue Jays to win Game 1 of AL Wild Card Series

A tough opening inning proved costly for ace Alek Manoah and the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday.

With the way Seattle starter Luis Castillo lined up, there was no room for error.

The Mariners silenced a sold-out crowd at Rogers Center with a triple first inning en route to a 4-0 win in the opener of the best-of-three wild card series.

Seattle refused to let Toronto back into the game, and now the Blue Jays are one loss away from post-season elimination.

“They hit me because of my mistakes,” said Manoah, who lasted 5 2/3 innings.

Cal Raleigh hit a two-run homer in the first inning after Eugenio Suarez put batsman Julio Rodriguez ahead with an RBI double. Seattle added an insurance run in the fifth.

Castillo rolled through 7 1/3 frames, giving up six singles and knocking out five without issuing a walk.

“We made our hits and at-bats were decent and (we) couldn’t get the big hit when we had guys on base,” said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. “His stuff was good. You have to give him credit.”

Seattle reliever Andres Munoz recorded the last five outs. Suarez had two goals for the Mariners and Rodriguez scored twice.

George Springer and Matt Chapman each had two goals for Toronto. The Blue Jays put two runners on base in the third inning and did it again in the fifth, but couldn’t get a run home.

“These are big spots,” said Schneider. “When you face a pitcher like that, when you have traffic on the bases, you want to come away with a big hit.

“It’s tough against a guy like that and really tough with two outs. So just take this for what it is today and move on.”

Manoah, making his first postseason career start, hit a season high by conceding four earned runs.

Schneider later confirmed that Kevin Gausman would start in Game 2 on Saturday. The Mariners counter with Robbie Ray.

“We’re used to playing must-win games,” Chapman said. “I think today a lot of people had their first playoff game and learned a lot from the game, experienced it.”

If Game 3 is required, it will be played at the Rogers Center on Sunday afternoon.

“We grind all year for that – to have the home field advantage,” said Manoah. “It’s two out of three, so we’ll be back tomorrow.”

An announced crowd of 47,402 tuned in to the start of Toronto’s first home playoff game since 2016. Edwin Encarnacion, who hit a walk-off homer in play-in play that year, threw the ceremonial first pitch.

Manoah was dominant at times during the regular season but appeared to be struggling with some nervousness late in the afternoon. Castillo, meanwhile, drove through the bottom half of the first inning by pulling the side back on groundouts.

The Mariners have some pop at the top of their lineup with Rodriguez – a virtual suspension for American League Rookie of the Year – a key offensive anchor. But Seattle’s primary strength is on the mound, with a solid rotation and bullpen that led the AL in multiple pitching categories.

Manoah gave up four hits and a walk while hitting four. Tim Mayza, Yimi Garcia, Zach Pop, Trevor Richards and Adam Cimber all contributed.

Castillo was pulled in the eighth inning after hitting Springer with a pitch in the left wrist area. Springer stayed in the game and post-game X-rays were negative, Schneider said.

Chapman delivered Toronto’s first extra base hit with a two-out double in the ninth inning. Raimel Tapia broke up to end it.

Blue Jays infielder Santiago Espinal, who missed the previous two weeks with an oblique strain, was added to the team’s 26-man roster for the series. Substitute catcher Gabriel Moreno and assist Yusei Kikuchi also made the cut.

Outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (hamstring) ran the bases Thursday but needs more time. Backup outfielder Bradley Zimmer was also off the list.

Moreno gives Toronto three catchers and the flexibility to field Alejandro Kirk or Danny Jansen behind the plate or as the designated hitter when needed. Kirk started Game 1 as a catcher while Jansen batted as a DH for an eighth.

Kikuchi has struggled as a starter this season but has improved in a bullpen role lately. He offers a power arm from the left.

The Mariners got Logan Gilbert to start Game 3 if needed. The Blue Jays are expected to go stripling with Ross, but it’s not official.

The series winner will be promoted to the AL Division Series starting Tuesday in Houston.

The Blue Jays missed the playoffs last year and were defeated by the Tampa Bay Rays in a wildcard series in 2020. Toronto last reached the AL Championship Series in 2016 and last won the World Series in 1993.

It was the Mariners’ first playoff game since losing the ALCS in 2001. The franchise entered Major League Baseball in 1977 with the Blue Jays expansion.