Mariners rack up eighth-straight loss against Blue Jays

TORONTO — Troy Glaus singled home the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Mariners 2-1 on Saturday, sending Seattle to its season-high eighth straight loss.

The Mariners have fallen out of the race in the AL West, and are losing ground in a wild-card race they were leading earlier this week. Seattle began the day 6 ½ behind the Los Angeles Angels in the West and a game behind the New York Yankees for the wild card.

In an unusual gaffe, the Blue Jays cost themselves a chance to score in the second when Lyle Overbay and Aaron Hill batted out of order. Overbay flied out to start the second before Hill doubled to short left. Mariners manager John McLaren came out with his lineup card, which showed Hill preceding Overbay. After the umpires huddled to discuss the situation, Hill was called out. Overbay continued to bat ahead of Hill for the rest of the game.

The last team to bat out of order was the Kansas City Royals on July 1, 2005, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. David DeJesus led off the first against the Angels with a single, with Angel Berroa listed as the first batter.

Dustin McGowan (9-8) won for the first time in five starts. He allowed one run and six hits in eight innings, with a walk and three strikeouts.

Facing reliever Sean Green (5-2), Alex Rios walked to lead off the eighth and went to second on a single by Frank Thomas. Glaus followed with a single that bounced off the mound and through the middle, scoring Rios.

Jeremy Accardo closed it out in the ninth for his 27th save in 31 opportunities.

Toronto took a 1-0 lead in the seventh when Gregg Zaun homered into the right-field bullpen.

Seattle tied the game at 1 in the eighth. Jamie Burke singled and was replaced by pinch-runners Charlton Jimerson, who stole second and went to third on Zaun's throwing error. One out later, Jimerson scored when Ichiro Suzuki singled through the drawn-in infield.

The Blue Jays put runners at first and second with one out in the fourth and sixth, but failed to score both times.

Seattle starter Miguel Batista allowed one run and five hits in seven innings, walking three and matching a season-high with seven strikeouts.