Four Jays pitchers combine to blank Mariners

Blue Jays 1, Mariners 0

TORONTO (AP) -- Josh Towers is getting used to winning without much run support.

Towers outpitched Jeff Weaver in a fast-paced game and Aaron Hill hit an RBI single in the second inning to lead the Toronto Blue Jays past the Seattle Mariners 1-0 on Saturday.

Blue Jays center fielder Vernon Wells provided the defensive highlight, hauling in a deep drive by Raul Ibanez to strand runners at first and second in the sixth.

"We definitely played a great game as a team today," Towers said. "We show greatness in pitching, hitting and defense at times. We just don't always put it together. Today we did."

It was the second time Toronto won 1-0 in Towers' past three starts. The Blue Jays beat Cleveland 1-0 on July 8, when he pitched eight innings.

This time, three Blue Jays relievers combined for 2 1/3 perfect innings to complete the three-hitter. Jeremy Accardo earned his 15th save in 18 opportunities, ending a game that took only 2 hours, 6 minutes.

Weaver (2-8) was the hard-luck loser, allowing four hits over seven innings. He walked none and struck out four. The right-hander hasn't won since beating Boston on June 25, a span of four starts.

"It doesn't feel good regardless," Weaver said. "It just didn't work out today. It's tough to deal with."

The Mariners lost for only the fourth time in 12 games.

"It's a shame somebody had to lose, but that's the way it goes," Seattle manager John McLaren said. "Weaver was outstanding and Towers really kept us off-balance. He mixed his pitches well. We had a shot there. Raul hit it right on the nose and Vernon did his thing and chased it down."

Towers (5-6) gave up three hits, struck out four and walked two over 6 2/3 innings. Casey Janssen got two outs and left-hander Scott Downs retired all three batters he faced before Accardo recorded the final two outs.

The Blue Jays posted their fifth shutout of the season. Seattle was blanked for the fourth time, and first since May 16.

Towers retired his first 10 batters before Jose Vidro's infield single in the fourth. He didn't allow another baserunner until the sixth, when Ichiro Suzuki drew a two-out walk and went to third on Vidro's single. Towers got out of the jam when Wells tracked down Ibanez's drive to center.

Running from first base on the play, Vidro was surprised Wells got to the ball in time.

"I thought for sure it was going to be over his head, maybe off the wall or something," Vidro sad. "I didn't expect Vernon to be able to make that play. That was the play of the game for them because I was almost at third base when he made that catch. We definitely would have been ahead there."

Ibanez said he was out in front on his swing, and wasn't sure the ball had enough to get by Wells.

"He's good, man," Ibanez said. "He's made that play on me before."

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons called the play "a game-saver."

"He makes everything look so easy," Gibbons said about Wells. "He never panics, he's under control. That's why he wins those Gold Gloves."

Janssen relieved Towers in the seventh after a two-out walk to Richie Sexson and an infield single by Jose Lopez put runners at first and second for pinch-hitter Ben Broussard, who popped out to end the inning.

The only run came in the second when Wells singled, went to second on a bloop single by Frank Thomas and scored on Hill's base hit to left.

"When you're on turf, things like that happen," McLaren said. "You can't have your fielders every place."

Game notes
Toronto LF Matt Stairs batted leadoff for the first time in his career and finished 0-for-4. Stairs, who broke in with Montreal in 1992, was playing in his 1,494th game. ... Seattle fell to 18-9 against AL East teams this season.