Mariners open four game series against Oakland with 8-6 victory on Pride night
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA – On Pride night at the ballpark, the Seattle Mariners opened a four-game series against the Oakland Athletics with a win. Several Mariners contributed on the offensive end, and Seattle was even able to cut down on the runners left on base. The Mariners were able to put eight runs on the board, which helped them as starter Logan Gilbert allowed four runs against a bad Athletics lineup. With the win over Oakland on the last day of June, Seattle has now won eight of their last ten games.
The Cal Raleigh show?
Catcher Cal Raleigh has seen great growth over the last few months, and continues to show improvement. When starting backstop Tom Murphy went down back in May with a shoulder injury, it brought Raleigh back, who had just been sent to AAA Tacoma. It was a situation where Raleigh was essentially the default starter, as Luis Torrens has failed to earn much of a job at catcher for Seattle. Slowly but surely, and now it feels like rapidly and furiously, Raleigh is staking his claim. At a good time too, as Murphy is out for the year with season-ending shoulder surgery.
Raleigh’s June has been damn, posting a .883 OPS in the 24 games before tonight. His 1.1 fWAR since the beginning of June is tied for the third best amongst all catchers in baseball, and his six homers heading into tonight were tied for the most on the Mariners. Raleigh finished out the month of June with a bang, going two for four with a “inside the park home run,” and a double. That “inside the park home run” was interesting, as it was technically a triple but an error allowed Raleigh to score. The development of Raleigh is another huge key for Seattle, and if he can continue this positive growth, then the Mariners will have another slot in the lineup that can produce.
Cal Raleigh celebrates reaching home (Photo Liv Lyons)
Logan Gilbert okay, but not great
Mariners starter Logan Gilbert has been incredible so far this season, and it feels almost like we are spoiled to consider tonight’s start a bad one for Gilbert. In this start, Logan went only six innings, allowing eight hits and four runs. Four runs aren’t the end of the world, but consider that Gilbert had not given up that many since May 11th, when the Mariners welcomed the Phillies to town. Gilbert is having an all-star caliber season, and this is sort of start is allowable all things considered.
Despite the runs, Logan had some solid moments on the mound defensively. In the top of the second, Athletics catcher Sean Murphy hit a liner straight back at Gilbert. Gilbert, in reaction, began to bend down with his glove raised, and the liner fit straight into the glove. In the top of the third, Seth Brown hit a dribbler that Gilbert was able to make a play on to end the inning.
Logan Gilbert pitched six innings for Seattle in the win (Photo Liv Lyons)
Julios star grows every day
21-year-old center fielder Julio Rodriguez rocketed his way up the Mariners farm system, and since arriving in the major leagues, has made his mark in a big way. Following his win of the American League rookie of the month award for May, Rodriguez looks primed to defend that award for the June honor. Not only that, but Rodriguez looks primed to win the rookie of the year award as well if he keeps his pace.
In this game, Julio was hit by a pitch, representing Seattle’s first run, and blasted a solo homer to deep center field. In addition to his offensive impact, Rodriguez made several sliding catches in the outfield. The J-ROD show is must watch entertainment, and whenever Julio comes to the plate, you’d be sorry to not be paying attention. Rodriguez’s star will continue to grow, and who knows when it will truly stop.
Julio Rodriguez celebrates with his teammates (Photo Liv Lyons)
Quick notes
Julio Rodriguez was tied with Houston’s Jeremy Pena heading into this game for the highest WAR amongst rookies in baseball at 2.4.
Julio Rodriguez, since the first of June, leads American League rookies in fWAR, wRC+, runs, home runs, total bases, as well as times on base.
Over their last 19 games against Oakland, the Mariners have a 17-2 record.
Oakland (47,087) and Seattle (46,385) are the two ball clubs that have traveled the most this season in all of baseball.
Game two of the series against the division rival Athletics is tomorrow, July 1st with a 7:10PM PST first pitch. Seattle will have Marco Gonzales on the mound for game two, while Oakland will send pitcher James Kaprielian to duel Gonzales. The Friday matchup is also “Patriotic fireworks night” at T-Mobile Park.