SEATTLE -- So much time had passed since the last time the Seattle Mariners won back-to-back games that two in a row qualifies as a winning streak.

The Mariners accomplished that underwhelming feat Friday night when ace Felix Hernandez matched the American League high with his 12th victory of the season while leading Seattle past the Toronto Blue Jays 5-2.

"The only significance is we're starting to play the type of baseball we're capable of playing," Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon said of the first two-game winning streak in more than three weeks.

Hernandez (12-5) allowed two runs (one earned) and six hits in seven innings. A two-run homer from designated hitter Mark Trumbo and second baseman Robinson Cano's two-run triple in the fifth helped stake Hernandez a 5-1 lead as Seattle (45-52) opened a six-game homestand.

"We just have to continue to do that and be consistent," Hernandez said.

Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista moved into sole possession of second place on Toronto's career home run list with a solo shot in the sixth inning. It was Bautista's 21st homer of the season and 224th as a Blue Jay, moving him past Vernon Wells. Only Carlos Delgado, with 336 homers in a Toronto uniform, has more.

Seattle closer Carson Smith came on in the ninth to nail down his ninth save of the season.

Mariners right fielder Nelson Cruz went 3-for-3 with a double and a run scored, and Seattle had five extra-base hits.

Toronto (49-49) fell 5 1/2 games behind AL East leader New York.

Blue Jays starter Marco Estrada, who had his original Saturday start moved up one day because Drew Hutchison is still battling the flu, couldn't get an out in the fifth inning and was lifted after 94 pitches. Estrada (7-6) gave up eight hits and five runs in four innings.

"I was all over the place," said Estrada, who walked three batters. "You can't do that, especially when you're going against a guy like Felix."

Estrada wouldn't say when he found out that he'd be starting the game, nor was he blaming his performance on a lack of preparation.

"I had plenty of time," he said. "No excuses. I didn't pitch well today -- plain and simple."

Trumbo gave the Mariners their first lead at 2-1 with the no-out homer in the fourth. Seattle went on to put runners on second and third with one out before Toronto got out of the inning with a strikeout and an inning-ending putout at third base, courtesy of catcher Dioner Navarro's throw as base runner Brad Miller leaned too far off the bag.

Seattle started the fifth with back-to-back hits from third baseman Kyle Seager and Cruz to put runners on the corners before Cano drove a pitch from Estrada into the right-center-field gap for a two-run triple and a 4-1 lead. Cano came on to score on a two-out wild pitch from reliever Ryan Tepera.

"It was a total team effort," Cruz said.

A throwing error on Hernandez and some heads-up base running from Toronto leadoff hitter Jose Reyes led to the first run of the game and a 1-0 Blue Jays lead in the top of the first.

Reyes reached first on a high chopper that Hernandez fielded and then threw over the head of first baseman Logan Morrison, allowing Reyes to reach second. Reyes advanced to third on a headfirst slide after Seager threw out Josh Donaldson at first.

Reyes scored two batters later when he broke for home as Morrison jogged toward first for an unassisted putout.

The unearned run put the Blue Jays ahead 1-0.

"I was trying to get an out," Hernandez said of the error. "I probably should have let (the ball) go. Maybe it would have gone foul -- who knows? I should have let it go."

NOTES: Toronto RHP Drew Hutchison (flu) was scratched from another scheduled start Friday. The illness pushed RHP Marco Estrada up a day, but Estrada was able to pitch on his routine because of the Monday off day. Hutchinson also missed a scheduled start Thursday afternoon due to the illness, and the Blue Jays are hoping he will be available to start Saturday night. If not, Toronto would likely have to make a roster move to promote a starter. ... Blue Jays SS Jose Reyes was in the lineup Friday, despite taking a ball to the face in Thursday's win over Oakland. ... Seattle 2B Robinson Cano started in the cleanup spot for the fifth game in a row. Cano, who swapped spots with RF Nelson Cruz, is 9-for-20 in his first four games batting cleanup.