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Blog entry by Edward Macgroarty

Blue Jays look to wake up sleepy bats in home opener vs. Mariners

Blue Jays look to wake up sleepy bats in home opener vs. Mariners

Following a season-opening 10-game trip, the Toronto Blue Jays are ready to return to their remodeled home.

Monday night's game against the Seattle Mariners will be the first at Rogers Centre since a nearly-$400 million renovation in the offseason, turning a multi-purpose stadium into a ballpark. Field-level seats behind the plate have been added, the dugouts are closer to the field, and players will get a new turf playing surface and larger clubhouses.

"It's an entirely re-envisioned lower bowl from foul pole to foul pole," Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro said. "In every way, it's going to feel like a baseball field, not (something) dropped in the middle of a big concrete circle. It's going to feel much more like a ballpark, and I'm so excited for everyone to see and experience that.

"There will be a significant `wow' factor."

The Blue Jays could use a boost after going 4-6 on a trip in which they faced Tampa Bay, Houston and the New York Yankees. The lowlight of the trip was being no-hit 10-0 by the Astros' Ronel Blanco last Monday, although they managed just one hit Wednesday in an 8-0 loss at Houston.

After Sunday's 8-3 setback to the Yankees, the Blue Jays are batting .193, better than only Minnesota (.191) in the major leagues.

"As an offense, to this point, we've been a little wavy," Blue Jays bench coach/offensive coordinator Don Mattingly said. "We've had some games where we score, then other games where we don't look as good."

To offset that, the Blue Jays will look for a third consecutive quality start from right-hander Jose Berrios (1-0, 2.25 ERA) on Monday.

Berrios, who is 3-2 with a 3.27 ERA in seven career starts against Seattle, beat Tampa Bay 8-2 on Opening Day, allowing two runs on six hits over six innings. He was even better last Tuesday at Houston, giving up one run through six innings, but he didn't get a decision as the Blue Jays didn't pull out the victory until Davis Schneider's two-run homer in the ninth.

"I didn't have my best stuff, but I was still able to go out there and compete," Berrios said. "I held the game at 1-0. I think my slurve was working pretty good. That's the pitch that helped me all night because I didn't feel like I had the power. I didn't feel like I was explosive on the end, but I had it in my mind to compete and try to make my pitches."

Berrios is set to go against Seattle ace Luis Castillo (0-2, 6.75), who has struggled. The right-hander has allowed four runs in each of his initial starts, the first over five innings and the second over 5 2/3.

"I feel good," said Castillo, who is 0-1 with a 3.27 ERA in two career starts against Toronto. "You've just got to keep working and working. The good stuff is about to come. The only thing I can do is keep my positive mentality and not get frustrated at all."

The Mariners are 4-6 overall after a 12-4 defeat Sunday at Milwaukee, Seattle's fourth loss in five games.

Mariners manager Scott Servais praised reliever Tayler Saucedo, who pitched a career-high 2 2/3 innings Sunday without allowing a hit or run to help keep the rest of the bullpen intact.

"Ton of credit to Sauce -- unbelievable job," Servais said. "We're up against it. We did not have a day off. We're going to Toronto. So for him to give 2 2/3, reformas cocinas zaragoza I really appreciate the effort. It puts us in a position that gives a better chance to win the next series."

lady-mit-dem-kajak.jpg?b=1&s=170x170&k=20&c=Nu4TLd-oSsNEGTd5m2z_gjglhe8AMJW1QyEifLRDTPs=--Field Level Media

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