Hernandez helps Mariners past Blue Jays

Felix Hernandez had a season-high 11 strikeouts, Josh Wilson hit a tiebreaking two-run triple in the eighth inning and the Seattle Mariners beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 on Thursday night.

Hernandez (17-5) allowed four runs, three earned, and seven hits in eight innings to improve to 5-0 with a 1.57 ERA in his last six starts. The right-hander, a candidate for the AL Cy Young Award, also moved to 10-2 with a 1.99 ERA in 18 road starts.

Franklin Gutierrez hit a two-run homer for Seattle, which has won six of eight.

Wilson gave the Mariners a 5-3 lead with a two-out triple to right off left-hander Jesse Carlson (1-6), scoring Adrian Beltre and Bill Hall.

Vernon Wells singled in a run in the bottom half but David Aardsma pitched around a leadoff walk for his 36th save in 40 chances, ending Toronto's five-game home winning streak.

Blue Jays left-hander Ricky Romero allowed three runs and nine hits in 6 1-3 innings. The rookie has won just once in his last six starts.

Ichiro Suzuki went 2 for 5 with a pair of singles for Seattle, keeping his average at .355. Suzuki is second in the AL batting race behind Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer.

Matt Tuiasosopo hit a sacrifice fly in the second inning and Gutierrez connected for his 17th homer in the third to give the Mariners a 3-0 lead.

Coming off a complete-game victory against the New York Yankees, Hernandez cruised through the first five innings, allowing just two hits, but he got into trouble when his defense let him down in the sixth.

Leading off the inning, Aaron Hill reached second on third baseman Beltre's error. Adam Lind singled and Wells ripped the next pitch over the wall in left for a three-run homer, his 15th.

Seattle designated hitter Mike Sweeney left with a bruised big toe after taking a pitch off his right foot in the second. Sweeney stayed in initially and ran the bases, eventually scoring on Tuiasosopo's fly ball to center. Ken Griffey Jr. hit for him when his turn came up again in the third.

NOTES: Seattle 1B Russell Branyan (back) took batting practice for the first time since going on the 15-day disabled list on Aug. 29. Branyan, who hit off a tee Wednesday, did not take grounders. ... The Blue Jays turned four double plays. ... Blue Jays minor league catchers J.P. Arencibia and Brian Jeroloman are injured and will not play in the Arizona Fall League. Arencibia recently underwent kidney surgery and Jeroloman needs hip surgery.