TORONTO — Max Scherzer struck out a season-high 10 batters in a sizzling seven-inning, one-hit outing to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a 7-0 win and a three-game sweep against the Seattle Mariners on Sunday.
The seven innings and 97 pitches also were season highs for the 42-year-old Scherzer (2-7) as he won for the first time since March 31. He also moved into ninth on Major League Baseball’s all-time strikeout list.
Scherzer, who issued only one walk, retired the final 10 batters he faced before 42,039 at Rogers Centre.
Alejandro Kirk smacked a two-run homer in the first inning and rookie infielder Kazuma Okamoto knocked out a sixth-inning solo shot off reliever Gabe Speier for his team-leading 28th longball to provide the key offensive slugs.
The Blue Jays (68-70) enjoyed their fourth series sweep in 2026 as they head to Cleveland for a key three-game series against the Guardians. Cleveland entered Sunday with a 1 1/2-game lead on Toronto in the race for the final American League wild-card spot.
The Blue Jays outscored the Mariners 19-4 in the series after Andreas Gimenez delivered a bases-loaded single that scored a pair in the eighth.
Seattle (64-73) dropped their fourth straight. Mariners righty Logan Gilbert (11-8) gave up three runs on six hits and a walk with four strikeouts in five innings.
Takeaways
Blue Jays: Kirk has hit .392 (20 for 51) with runners in scoring position this season with seven extra-base hits and 26 RBI.
Mariners: Cal Raleigh broke up Scherzer’s no-hit bid with a two-out double in the fourth. The catcher has hit safely in 12 of 13 games.
Key moment
Scherzer received a standing ovation in the seventh inning when he struck out Raleigh for career strikeout 3,535, moving into ninth on the all-time strikeout list past Gaylord Perry.
Key stat
The Blue Jays have gone 22-14 since July 23. Only the Tampa Bay Rays (22-12) and Boston Red Sox (22-13) had better win percentages in the American League in that span entering Sunday.
Up next
The Blue Jays have Monday off before beginning a nine-game road stint on Tuesday. The Blue Jays’ Spencer Arrighetti (7-7) will face Guardians righty Gavin Williams (12-7).
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 30, 2026.
Tim Wharnsby, The Canadian Press
