Jose Bautista's home run sparked a six-run eighth inning that lifted Toronto to an 8-3 victory at Seattle on Wednesday afternoon.

Justin Smoak had given the Mariners a 2-1 lead with a solo home run in the sixth inning, before Bautista put the Blue Jays in front to stay with a three-run shot off of Chris Ray (1-1). Edwin Encarnacion followed four batters later with an RBI double to make it 5-2, and Jose Molina capped the eighth-inning surge with a two-run double to center field.

Seattle (4-8) had gotten a strong start from Jason Vargas, who allowed just one run and five hits over 6 2/3 innings, but Ray failed to escape the eighth, retiring just two batters and surrendering five runs, all earned.

Marc Rzepczynski (1-0) earned the win on the mound by pitching two innings in relief of starter Kyle Drabek (5 2/3 IP, 6 H, 4 BB, 2 ER).

Yunell Escobar and Molina finished with three hits apiece for Toronto (6-6).