Mariners' Felix Hernandez has allowed just one run over his last 21 innings pitched. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)

The worst team in the major leagues dealt the Toronto Blue Jays their fourth series loss in a row on Wednesday.

Seattle Mariners right-hander Felix Hernandez pitched eight stellar innings for his fifth win of the season, striking out eight in a 2-1 victory to lift his team to its first series win since sweeping a two-game set at Oakland April 16-17.

The Venezuelan blanked Toronto through the first three frames to extend his scoreless innings streak to 16 before surrendering an unearned run in the fourth.

Hernandez scattered four hits and threw 67 of his 97 pitches for strikes for his third straight win and second in four career starts at Rogers Centre.

"Boy that kid was pitching," said Blue Jays manager John Gibbons of Hernandez, who has a 5-5 record this season and 2.81 earned-run average. "He was lights out."

Hernandez set down the Blue Jays in order in the first, third, fifth and seventh innings and only allowed one baserunner to reach third base.

Toronto infielder Joe Inglett doubled to open the fourth inning and advanced to third on an error by right-fielder Jeremy Reed.

After Vernon Wells struck out, Inglett scored on a Matt Stairs groundout to give Toronto a 1-0 lead.

Marcum went pitch-for-pitch with Hernandez, holding the American League's second-weakest offence off the scoreboard through six innings.

In the seventh, he gave up consecutive singles to Reed and Richie Sexson before Kenji Johjima popped out, and Reed was caught leaning off second base.

The next batter, shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt, tripled to right field to score Sexson.

Marcum, who entered the game with a 2.52 ERA on the season, left after seven innings and was let down by the bullpen for a second straight start.

Closer B.J. Ryan took over from Scott Downs to start the ninth inning and retired two of the first three batters he faced.

But Ichiro Suzuki, who drew a one-out walk, stole second and third base with Miguel Cairo at the plate. Cairo then walked and advanced to second on defensive indifference.

Fletcher's strike zone tightened in ninth

Ryan felt he had Miguel Cairo rung up on a 3-2 pitch for the final out but didn't get the call from home plate umpire Andy Fletcher, whose liberal strike zone had plenty of players shaking their heads during the matinee contest before a crowd of 35,702.

Raul Ibanez then singled in the winning run off Ryan (1-3), who along with Gibbons was ejected for arguing balls and strikes after the hit. Ryan, who didn't speak to reporters after the game, is 0-3 with one save in three chances and a 13.50 ERA over five June appearances.

Blue Jays catcher Rod Barajas said that somewhere between his at-bat in the bottom of the eighth inning and the disheartening top of the ninth, Fletcher's zone tightened up.

"What you don't like to see is the strike zone change, and for me, from my at-bat to going behind the plate and working, it seemed like it changed a little in the ninth," he said.

Brandon Morrow got the final three outs, two by strikeout, for his first career save after Mariners closer J.J. Putz left the game with an undisclosed injury.

Seattle (24-42) finished its six-game road trip at 3-3 and posted only its fourth win against 23 defeats this season when scoring fewer than four runs.

The Blue Jays must now regroup for the National League Central division-leading Chicago Cubs, who arrive for three games starting Friday to conclude a nine-game homestand. The Blue Jays are just 2-4 so far and will need to be at their best to avoid an even worse stint at home.

"It's been a grind for us," said Barajas, sporting a massive welt on his left side from a foul tip. "We had our (4-5) West Coast trip, and we've played a lot of games here in the first three months of the season. It's nice to rest these bodies, come back refreshed, try to put a good run on the board and make up some ground."

Blue Jays right-fielder Alex Rios was given the day off after playing through back and groin pain Tuesday. Gibbons expects him to be fine for Friday's series opener with the Cubs.

Gibbons also rested third baseman Scott Rolen and Barajas, who pinch-hit in the eighth inning and struck out.