The Toronto Blue Jays began a three game series with the Seattle Mariners Monday July 27th 2009 in Seattle at Safeco Field.

The Jays sent American League Rookie of the Year candidate Ricky Romero to the hill Monday to do battle with Seattle’s “King” Felix Hernandez.

Neither pitcher pitched particularly well, as this game was loaded with hits and offense, as the Jays won the game 11-4.

The Jays offense completely took apart Hernandez for seven runs and eleven hits over just five and two third innings.

Not a normal day at the office for Hernandez, who has one of the lowest earned run averages in the American League.

Romero came out with the win, but did not pitch to form.

Romero’s final pitching line: 6IP, 10H, 4R, 4ER, 1BB, 3K

It was a group offensive effort from the Jays.

Every player in the Blue Jays lineup aside from Aaron Hill & Vernon Wells had a run batted in, but both of those players contributed with hits.

Also, every player in the Blue Jays lineup came around to score a run, the exception being Scott Rolen, who was a sacrifice fly machine in the ball game.

The Toronto bullpen was fantastic.

The combination of Jesse Carlson, Scott Downs, and Dirk Hayhurst allowed no runs, two hits and one walk over three innings of work to secure the series opener victory for the Jays.

The good start to the series was ended by the bat of Ichiro Suzuki and the left pitching arm of Jarrod Washburn in the second game of this series.

Washburn faced off against Blue Jays rookie left hander Marc Rzepczynski.

Both pitchers pitched well, with Rzepczynski battling out of trouble on numerous occasions.

Washburn was next to unhittable for Seattle, as he auditioned for several major league teams in attendance, most of which were interested in acquiring the veteran left hander before the July 31st trade deadline.

The final pitching lines for the starters:

Marc Rzepczynksi – 5.1IP, 5H, 3R, 3ER, 2BB, 8K
Jarrod Washburn – 7IP, 5H, 1R, 1ER, 3BB, 1K

The Jays were pleased to have Washburn leave the game in the eighth inning, down 3-1.

The Jays rallied off of Seattle reliever Mark Lowe to tie the game at three going into the ninth.

Scott Downs has not pitched like himself as of late.

Toronto Blue Jays closer Scott Downs began the ninth inning by allowing a lead off single to Jack Hannahan, Downs than walked catcher Rob Johnson, and made a poor fielding error on a sacrifice bunt by Chris Woodward. This loaded the bases with nobody out.

Downs proceeded to get a groundball from Jose Lopez, which in turn cut down Hannahan at home plate; Downs followed this up by striking out number nine hitter Ronny Cedeno, moving onto Ichiro.

Downs quickly got ahead of Ichiro with two sliders out of the zone. Downs went back to the same pitch for a third time and Ichiro hit the pitch (which was literally an inch from hitting the dirt) for a soft blooper that landed behind the Blue Jays infield for the game winning hit.

Final score, Seattle 4, Toronto 3

In the series finale the Blue Jays sent ace Roy Halladay to the mound, in what could have possibly been his last start in a Blue Jays uniform, as trade rumors were still floating about as the July 31st trade deadline approached.

Seattle countered Halladay with Ryan Rowland-Smith.

Rowland-Smith pitched an outstanding game, no hitting the Jays into the seventh inning.

At this point the score was 1-0 for Seattle, on a solo home run by Jose Lopez in the bottom of the fifth inning off of Halladay.

In the top of the seventh inning Rowland-Smith’s no hit bid was ended on a single by Aaron Hill, followed up by a two run home run for Adam Lind. Lind’s home run gave Toronto a 2-1 lead.

The Toronto lead was short lived as Halladay got himself into trouble in the bottom of the seventh inning, loading the bases and giving up the game tying/winning double to Ken Griffey Jr.

Seattle closer David Aardsma came in to close it out for Seattle, as they walked away winning two of the three games in the series.

The Jays lack of offense caused Halladay to lose his third start in his last four appearances.

The Jays have the day off today and continue a short west coast road trip Friday in Oakland.

The Jays will send Scott Richmond, fresh off the disabled list, to the mound to battle Oakland pitcher Dallas Braden.

With the Cliff Lee deal complete. Halladay will most likely be staying a Jay.

In other baseball news, it was a big day in the Major League Baseball trading world yesterday.

The Cleveland Indians sent 2008 American League Cy Young award winner Cliff Lee & outfielder Ben Francisco to the Philadelphia Phillies for Class A right-hander Jason Knapp, Class AAA right-hander Carlos Carrasco, shortstop Jason Donald and catcher Lou Marson.

This trade has pretty much signified that Toronto ace Roy Halladay will not be moved before the July 31st trade deadline, unless a team can come up with a monster trade proposition in just one day.

Also, the Seattle Mariners acquired shortstop Jack Wilson and pitcher Ian Snell from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday for shortstop Ronny Cedeno, Triple-A catcher Jeff Clement, and three young prospects in right handed pitchers Aaron Pribanic, Brett Lorin and Nathan Adcock.

The Pirates also traded three time All-Star and former National League batting champion Freddy Sanchez to the San Francisco Giants for one of baseball’s best pitching prospects Tim Alderson.

Finally, in minor trade news, the Cincinnati Reds have acquired outfielder Wladimir Balentien from the Mariners for right-hander Robert Manuel.