Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners top Toronto Blue Jays in home series opener

In between, the Mariners had scored five times and chased starter Marco Estrada from the game.

Hutchison was supposed to start against the Athletics on Thursday, but he was pushed back to Friday due to flulike symptoms.

More exciting, surely, than his time as a Mariner, which yielded a slash line of.226/.308/.384 in 496 games from the end of 2010 through 2014. As it turns out, Hutchison will go Saturday anyway.

Estrada didn’t use the shift in his start day as an excuse, saying he had plenty of time to get ready. “We couldn’t say definitely”. I figured I’d be most likely be looking for a job all offseason, trying to see what was out there, but I was excited. “You can’t do that especially when you’re going up against a guy like Felix. I think he’s in the right ballpark and been doing a nice job for them”. I let the game get away from me. “Great team, great lineup, and I feel like the chances I’ve gotten to play, I’ve done pretty well”. “I just wasn’t making pitches”. I had plenty of time. “I just didn’t pitch well today, plain and simple”. “It’s that simple”.

Hernandez threw 22 pitches in the first inning — 10 in one at-bat to Bautista — but was efficient with his pitch count after that shaky start. Donaldson grounded out, third baseman Seager to first baseman Morrison, Reyes to third. Encarnacion grounded out to first baseman Morrison, Reyes scored, Bautista to second. Sometimes I make a mistake running the bases, but that’s the way I am. In fact, I said, ‘What the hell’s going on?’ It’s OK.

Trouble followed Estrada into the fifth inning as he yieled a double to Kyle Seager, a single to Nelson Cruz and then a two-RBI triple to Robinson Cano.

Toronto had clung to its early 1-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth but, after Seth Smith’s leadoff single, Mark Trumbo belted his third homer of the year off Estrada to give Seattle the lead for good.

The M’s topped the Jays 5-2 for their second consecutive victory.

Hernandez (12-5) allowed two runs – one earned – off six hits over seven innings. He’s allowed a total of four runs in his last five starts, a stretch that has lowered his ERA from 3.24 to 2.59. But Dickey explained after his victory that it was easier for him because of the nature of the knuckleball. Toronto’s Jose Reyes went 2-for-4 and scored a run on Friday, one day after leaving a contest against Oakland after being hit in the mouth by a thrown ball while covering second base.

The loss evens Toronto’s record on this road trip at 2-2, with games remaining Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Career vs. the Jays he is 7-6 in 15 starts.

Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista moved into sole possession of second place on Toronto’s all-time home run list with a solo shot in the sixth inning.