TORONTO, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Josh Wilson put Seattle in front with a two-run triple in the eighth Thursday and Felix Hernandez struck out 11, helping the Mariners edge Toronto 5-4.
Hernandez (17-5) added to his standing in the battle for the American League Cy Young Award by winning for the fifth time in six starts.
He gave up all four Toronto runs, three of them on a sixth-inning homer by Vernon Wells, but picked up the victory when Wilson came through with his clutch hit in the eighth.
David Aardsma walked the lead-off man in the ninth, then retired the next three batters for his 36th save.
With Jesse Carlson (1-6) on the mound in the top of the eighth, Adrian Beltre reached on a one-out single and Bill Hall drew a walk. After Matt Tuiasosopo flied out, Wilson tripled to deep right on a 1-0 pitch to break a 3-3 tie.
Franklin Gutierrez hit a two-run homer for Seattle in the third to give the Mariners an early 3-0 lead.
