Tides changing? Mariners take series win over Rays with one-run victory in rubber match
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA – In their Sunday rubber match at T-Mobile Park, the Seattle Mariners defeated the Tampa Bay Rays by a score of 7-6 as the Mariners got another strong offensive performance while the teams bullpen cleaned up a somewhat bumpy start from starting pitcher Luis Castillo. While Tampa Bay got off on the offensive front first, holding a five-run lead going into the bottom of the third inning, Seattle was able to respond with a big frame of their own, taking a lead late. It’s a quality series victory after an ugly series opener that had folks ready to end the season, and it could be a turning point that the Mariners desperately need.
Local sports media legend Kenny Mayne threw out the first pitch ahead of today’s ballgame (Photo by Liv Lyons)
Castillo cruises after bumpy beginning
Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo had a rough and unique start to his outing, on a day that saw him named as an All-Star selection for the third time in his career. Castillo had his control in check through the first two innings, as the only two hits that he allowed were solo homers to Rays left fielder Randy Arozarena and third baseman Isaac Paredes on pitches that weren’t particularly easy to hit. Those first two innings just showed instances of quality hitting from a Rays team that has led all of baseball to this point, but the third inning saw a change in how Tampa Bay scored their runs. While walks weren’t at all an issue and control really wasn’t bad, Castillo was hit hard in the top of the third as the Rays built a five-run lead. A mix of well hit balls outside the zone and a couple in the heart of the plate saw a five hit, four run inning that dug Seattle a hefty hole.
Following the rough third inning, La Piedra was able to buckle himself in and only allow one hit in the next three innings of his outing, a double from Manuel Margot with two outs in the top of the sixth. Castillo used a healthy mixture of fastball, slider, and changeup with a pinch of sinker thrown into the mix to generate 19 whiffs on the day while topping out at 98 MPH. Recording six strikeouts on the day, Castillo did look sharp outside of the well hit balls on pitches off the plate and the snowball that got rolling in the third inning, which did feature some fielding issues, to Castillo’s credit. It wasn’t the prettiest outing by any means but seeing the control remain largely intact while getting upticks in velocity for every pitch except his fastball? Solid signs that Castillo may be working back to great form.
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo was named an All-Star during his start today (Photos by Liv Lyons)
Keeping pace
While Seattle wasn’t able to immediately answer the Tampa Bay offense, Eugenio Suarez did launch a solo homer in the bottom of the second to cut the Rays advantage in half and ensure that the Mariners didn’t start to fall into that hole too early. That frame came right before Tampa Bay really started to do their damage, and it seemed like a deficit that the struggling Seattle offense could not overcome. Thankfully, similar to how their game two against the Rays went when the Mariners were able to keep up with their opponent, smart and patient plate appearances resulted in success against Tampa Bay starter Taj Bradley.
Seattle Mariners third baseman Eugenio Suarez is pelted with seeds as he holds the trident following his solo homer (Photos by Liv Lyons)
It started start off so great, as JP Crawford hit a scalding liner right at Rays first baseman Luke Raley, but Seattle got firing immediately after as Julio Rodriguez and Ty France both doubled before a Teoscar Hernandez single, followed by a Jarred Kelenic double. The contact was coming in bunches, as an Eugenio Suarez sac fly scored a run before Mike Ford and Tom Murphy singled. The Mariners had been able to keep the line moving, resulting in a six hit, four run inning to cut down the Rays deficit from five to one and really ensure that Seattle stayed in this game.
The Seattle Mariners offense was able to rack up ten hits on the day (Photos by Liv Lyons)
Pulling through when it matters
The fourth and fifth innings went by somewhat quietly, as both teams sent the minimum number of batters (three) to the plate. In the sixth, it was the Mariners who found the spark needed to get the scoring going once again off the bat of today’s catcher, Tom Murphy. After reaching on a walk in the second and then hitting a single in the third, Murphy obliterated a fastball in the upper third of the zone. Tanking it to the Rays bullpen in left field, Murphy got ahold of the 92MPH heater and tied the game in the process. After his homer, Seattle was able to get runners on the corners with two outs thanks to walks from Jose Caballero and JP Crawford, but Crawford was thrown out at second on a fielder's choice for Julio Rodriguez, but Ty France popped out to end the inning.
The Mariners continued their on-base approach in the seventh as their bullpen continued to roll, as Teoscar Hernandez drew a walk to begin the inning, Eugenio Suarez was hit by a pitch, and Tom Murphy walked as well. That loaded the bases with two outs for Jose Caballero as Tampa Bay hoped that their reliever for the inning, Jason Adam, would settle down and try to work his own way out of the jam. Adam failed to do so, hitting Caballero with the first pitch thrown to him, pushing across the go-ahead run in the form of Hernandez. While JP Crawford came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs, someone who has performed well in those situations this year, Crawford struck out to end the inning and leave three men aboard.
Patient plate appearances helped the Mariners get the go-ahead run in the seventh inning (Photos by Liv Lyons)
‘Pen report
After Luis Castillo’s okay outing, the Mariners bullpen came through in a big way to lock down the Rays lineup and ensure that they don’t claw their way back into this game or even win it. Following the shelling that was Friday’s contest, there was also some concern to be had considering that Seattle had to use five of their relievers to attempt to stop the bleeding. In today’s ballgame against the best team in the bigs, the Mariners deployed three of the very best when it comes to high leverage with Andres Munoz, Matt Brash, and Paul Sewald. After using just two relievers yesterday due to George Kirby’s incredible outing, Seattle was in solid position to get a quality set from their bullpen.
Outside of Brash walking the first batter that he faced, none of the three relievers got into any real trouble against the entirety of the Rays lineup and that walk was in fact the only “extra” runner that they faced. Munoz and Sewald faced the minimum number of possible hitters at three each, while Brash proceeded to retire the next hitters after that walk to Tampa Bay’s Luke Raley. That strong three innings from those relievers included four total strikeouts against the ten batters faced, and kept things quiet as the Mariners offense was doing their best to try and squeeze out just enough to get the victory. That sort of performance from the bullpen is huge, and doing so against one of the best in the league is even bigger.
The Seattle Mariners bullpen performed well over three innings of work (Photos by Liv Lyons)
Quick notes
The Mariners won their 11th series and 40th game of the season in today’s 7-6 win over the Rays.
Today was Seattle’s 17th comeback win of the season… after trailing 6-1, Seattle tied the game 6-6 by the 6th inning and finished with a 7-6 win.
Today marked the Mariners first 5+ run comeback win in the regular season since July 26, 2021 vs. Houston, when they won 11-8 after trailing 7-0 against the Astros.
Seattle is now 6-4 after being tied in the 6th inning.
The Mariners have won 999 regular season games at T-Mobile Park.
Eugenio Suárez scored Seattle’s first run in the 2nd inning with his 9th home run of the season… he recorded 1-for-3 with 1 home run and 1 RBI.
Suárez has been hit-by-pitch in 3 consecutive games
Tom Murphy’s 5th home run of the season tied the game 6-6 in the 6th inning… Murphy went 2-for-2 with a home run, a double, and 2 walks.
In his last 8 games (6/1-c), Murphy is batting .407 with 11 hits, 2 doubles, 4 home runs, 8 RBI, 4 walks, and a 1.395 OPS.
Teoscar Hernández went 1-for-3 with 2 runs, a single, and a walk.
Julio Rodríguez went 2-for-5 today with his 15th double of the season and a single.
Julio is batting .337 (32x95) over his last 22 games at T-Mobile Park (5/22-c)...his 32 hits at home are 2nd-most in MLB during that stretch (Luis Arraez-MIA, 33 hits).
His would-have-been 20th stolen base was overturned during the 4th inning… the caught stealing snaps a 14-for-14 streak of successful stolen bases for Rodríguez...his last caught stealing prior to today was on April 28 at Toronto.
J.P. Crawford, Ty France, and Jarred Kelenic all recorded a double.
France recorded 5 at-bats, Kelenic and Crawford recorded 4.
Crawford also recorded a walk.
Kelenic’s double extended his lead of the Mariners in extra base hits with 32.
France and Kelenic also recorded 1 run and 1 RBI each.
Today was the 7th time this season Seattle has recorded 4 doubles in a game… Seattle’s team-high this season is 6 doubles in a game, which it did on May 27 vs PIT.
Despite not recording a hit today, José Caballero made it on base 2 times off a walk and a hit by pitch… the latter scored Teoscar Hernández and gave Seattle a 7-6 lead in the 7th.
It was Caballero’s 9th HBP this season.
Across 6.0 innings pitched today, Luis Castillo allowed 8 hits, 6 runs (5 earned), 2 home runs, no walks, and 6 strikeouts.
The 8 hits allowed tied Castillo’s season high… he last allowed 8 hits on May 10 vs TEX.
During today’s game, Major League Baseball announced that Castillo has been selected to play in the 93rd MLB All-Star Game.
By the bottom of the third inning, 8 of 9 players in Seattle’s lineup had recorded a hit
Isaac Paredes left the game in the 3rd inning after a collision with Ty France… the play was ruled a base-hit with France safe on third base.
The Ray’s challenged a safe call on Julio Rodríguez’s attempt to steal 2nd base during the 4th inning, the call was overturned and Rodríguez was caught stealing.
What’s next?
Following the impressive series victory over the Rays, the Mariners have wrapped up their final homestand ahead of the All-Star week that they are hosting at T-Mobile Park and surrounding Sodo area. Seattle now heads out on a seven-game road trip to close out the first half of their season, beginning in California for a three-game set against the San Francisco Giants. The Mariners battle the team in the city by the bay beginning tomorrow, Monday, July 3rd with a first pitch time of 6:45PM PST. Bay area native Bryan Woo gets the start on the mound for Seattle, as he’ll duel against Giants starter Logan Webb.