TORONTO - Chris Colabello almost redeemed himself in the ninth inning.

Colabello's two-run homer sparked a late Toronto Blue Jays rally in a 4-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Friday night. His long ball came after missing a crucial catch earlier in the game.

Seattle took a 2-1 lead in the fourth when Colabello misjudged a hit from Logan Morrison in right field, which bounced passed the sliding Blue Jays outfielder for a two-run triple.

"Obviously, when it got by me I was pretty sick about it," said Colabello. "You get an empty feeling in the pit of your stomach, especially because Marco Estrada was pitching so well.

"But you've got to learn from it and not let it happen again."

Estrada (1-3) gave up four earned runs and struck out five over seven innings of work for Toronto (19-25). Ryan Tepera and Steve Delabar gave up no runs in an inning each of relief.

Colabello also had two singles to lead the Blue Jays offence and improve his batting average to .381. Edwin Encarnacion had a home run and a double.

Nelson Cruz had a double and a solo blast for Seattle (19-22), adding to his major-league leading 17 home runs. He is best in the American League with 34 runs batted in.

Cruz made it 4-1 for the Mariners in the sixth inning, putting a 1-1 pitch from Estrada just over the right-field wall.

Mariners reliever Carson Smith held Toronto scoreless in the eighth inning before closer Fernando Rodney started to unravel in the ninth.

Encarnacion led the inning off with a double to right field. After Russell Martin popped out to catcher Mike Zunino behind home plate, Colabello blasted the ball to deep left field to make it 4-3.

Kevin Pillar was called out after video review showed that Morrison had tagged him just before reaching first base. Pinch hitter Josh Donaldson then flew out to deep centre field to end the game.

"Eddie obviously put a good swing on it to get us going there to start the inning," said Colabello. "Great idea there by Kev to try and get us another runner. At the end of the day it's about competing, showed some heart there for sure."

Felix Hernandez (7-1) was dominant in the start for the Mariners, striking out eight, giving up four hits and a single run over seven innings. His seven wins leads the majors.

The 29-year-old Hernandez passed Hall of Famer Catfish Hunter (2,012) on the all-time strikeout list, tying Orel Hershiser for 70th at 2,014.

"Tonight he was very determined," said Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon of his ace. "The sinker was running all over the place. He had a real good change-up and the breaking ball was real sharp tonight."

Rodney earned his 11th save of the season, despite giving up Colabello's two-run shot.

Encarnacion put a solo shot over the left-field fence in the first inning for a 1-0 Toronto lead.

Estrada's seven-inning performance was his longest of the season as he fights to earn a regular spot in the Blue Jays' starting rotation.

"Today was just a couple of unfortunate plays or ball hit off the end or whatever," said Estrada, whose throwing elbow and shoulder were wrapped in ice after the game. "They found the holes when they needed to and it didn't go my way. I thought I threw a lot of good quality pitches today."

Notes: Announced attendance was 21,195. ... Munenori Kawasaki started at second base for the Blue Jays a day after being called up from triple-A Buffalo. He was added to the roster to take the spot of rookie infielder Devon Travis, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list late Thursday night, retroactive to May 17. Travis is out with an inflamed left shoulder.

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News from © The Canadian Press, 2015