Toronto @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 16, 2011 ) Toronto 13, Seattle 7

THE STORY: Aaron Hill’s slump got so deep that he found himself seated on the bench for two games while working on his mechanics. In his second game back in the lineup, Hill’s bat showed signs of life. The second baseman will seek a second straight solid contest when the Toronto Blue Jays finish a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday. Hill homered for the first time since July 26 and matched a season-high with four RBIs in Toronto’s 13-7 victory. Hill was batting just .198 since the All-Star break before Tuesday’s two-hit game. Seattle had won three straight games before its pitching got hammered for 15 hits by the Blue Jays.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, RSN (Toronto), ROOT (Seattle).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Brandon Morrow (8-7, 4.55) vs. Mariners RH Blake Beavan (3-3, 3.59)

Morrow has lost three of his last four starts. He lost to the Los Angeles Angels in his last outing when he gave up five runs (four earned) and four hits in seven innings. Morrow has pitched seven or more innings in each of his last three starts. He defeated the Mariners on July 20 in his only career start against them, allowing three runs and seven hits in seven innings. Morrow pitched for Seattle from 2007-09.

Beavan is making his eighth start since being recalled in early July. He lost to the Boston Red Sox in his last start when he gave up six runs and 11 hits in 6 1/3 innings and allowed three homers. Beavan won his previous start when he held the Angels to one run in eight innings. He is making his first career start against the Blue Jays.

ABOUT THE MARINERS (53-68): Mike Carp went 2-for-4 to extend his major-league best hitting streak to 16 games. Carp is batting .385 during the streak. He has reached base in 25 consecutive contests. Casper Wells homered for the fourth straight game. Miguel Olivo hit his team-leading 15th homer. Olivo also walked for the first time since June 26 after going 29 straight games without walking. Rookie Kyle Seager had two run-scoring singles for his first two major-league RBIs. Seager entered Tuesday’s game with 49 at-bats. Franklin Gutierrez was hitless in five at-bats to see his eight-game hitting streak halted. The Mariners signed left-hander Danny Hultzen of Virginia just prior to Monday’s deadline. Hultzen was the No. 2 overall pick in the draft.

ABOUT THE BLUE JAYS (62-60): Toronto has scored 34 runs while winning three of its last four games. Colby Rasmus had four RBIs on Tuesday after driving in just five runs in his first 16 games since Toronto acquired him from St. Louis. Jose Bautista reached base five times (2-for-2, three walks) and hit his major-league leading 35th homer. The homer was Bautista’s third in 12 career games at Safeco Field. Rookie Brett Lawrie went 3-for-4 and is batting .385 in 11 major-league games. Closer Jon Rauch underwent an appendectomy Tuesday morning after allowing the game-winning homer on Monday. Rauch will be sidelined for three-to-four weeks. Reliever Trever Miller gave up the tying homer Monday and was designated for assignment Tuesday. Frank Francisco (10 saves) regains the closer’s job while left-handers Wil Ledezma and Rommie Lewis were recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas.

FINAL PITCH: Seattle has finally solved its season-long clean-up issues since moving Carp to the fourth spot in the order. “I’m very, very pleased at how he’s handled himself and responded,” Mariners manager Eric Wedge told reporters. “Of course, he was hitting before we put him in the four-hole. That’s why we put him there. But we’ve had multiple people there this year and he’s really been the guy that has taken hold of it and produced.”