SEATTLE (Interstat) — The Toronto Blue Jays rode a dominant start from Max Scherzer and a clutch performance from Andrés Giménez to an 8-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners in Game 4 of their playoff series on Thursday night at a sold-out T-Mobile Park.

The win, played in 2 hours and 54 minutes before a crowd of 46,981, knots the best-of-seven series at two wins apiece, setting up a pivotal Game 5 in Seattle on Friday.

Scherzer, the veteran right-hander, earned the win to improve to 6-5 on the season. He stifled the Mariners’ lineup for 5 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on just three hits while striking out five. His counterpart, Luis Castillo, shouldered the loss for Seattle, falling to 12-9 after being chased in a tumultuous third inning.

The game was a pitchers’ duel early. Seattle struck first in the bottom of the second inning when Josh Naylor launched a solo home run to center field, giving the Mariners a brief 1-0 lead. Naylor finished the night a perfect 3 for 3.

Toronto’s offense, held hitless through two innings, erupted in the third to seize control. Isiah Kiner-Falefa sparked the rally with a double. Giménez then provided the game’s biggest swing, crushing a two-run homer to right field to put the Blue Jays ahead for good. The inning continued as Toronto batted around, adding another run on a bases-loaded walk to Daulton Varsho to take a 3-1 lead.

The Blue Jays extended their advantage in the fourth. Kiner-Falefa led off with a single, was bunted over by Giménez, and scored on a double by George Springer, making it 4-1.

Seattle chipped away in the sixth. After Scherzer issued a pair of walks, Eugenio Suárez delivered an RBI single to score Jorge Polanco. A strong relay throw from right fielder Addison Barger cut down Naylor at third base to end the threat and limit the damage, preserving a 5-2 lead for Toronto.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. provided an insurance run for the Blue Jays in the seventh with a solo home run to right-center field, his fifth of the postseason.

Toronto put the game out of reach with two more runs in the eighth. Ernie Clement singled and Myles Straw, pinch-running, later scored along with Clement on a sharp, two-run single by Giménez that deflected off pitcher Emerson Hancock. Giménez finished 2 for 3 with a home run and four RBIs.

The Blue Jays’ bullpen was flawless in relief of Scherzer. Jeff Hoffman struck out two in a perfect inning of work in the seventh. Louis Varland and Seranthony Domínguez each contributed a scoreless inning to seal the victory, with Domínguez striking out one.

For Seattle, reliever Matt Brash provided 1 1/3 hitless innings of relief. Carlos Vargas also worked a scoreless frame.

The victory improves Toronto’s overall record to 99-71, while Seattle falls to 95-76. The series, now reduced to a best-of-three, will shift back to Toronto after Friday’s Game 5 in Seattle.