Mariners use familiar recipe to beat Guardians, take series win
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA – A sellout crowd and sunbathed baseball diamond were the stage for the series finale of the Guardians and Mariners, in which Seattle came out on top. The Mariners got another quality outing from a starting pitcher, while more homers provided all of the offense that Seattle produced. The win pushes the Mariners back into the second Wild Card spot in the American League, and 12 games over .500. Sunday's game wraps up the homestand as Seattle now goes on the road for six games.
Reliever Paul Sewald closed out the win for the Mariners (Photo by Proof N the Play)
Ray day Sunday prevails
Since he began using his sinker on July 24th, Seattle starting pitcher Robbie Ray has been lights out for the Mariners. Outside of the next start following that July 24th game, Ray hasn’t allowed more than three runs, and hasn’t pitched less than six innings in a game. At the beginning of the season, Ray looked like Seattle's ace. With the addition of Luis Castillo and emergence of Logan Gilbert, Ray may have taken a seat, but the Mariners rotation now looks like a three headed monster.
Robert Glenn Ray pitched seven innings today, allowing only three hits. Cleveland did not score any runs off of him, weren’t able to draw any walks off of him, and Ray struck out seven Guardians. Ray faced little traffic on the base paths except for the sixth inning, but even then, he was able to get out of a jam. Seattle’s starting pitching continues to set the table for their success, and that was again apparent today.
Robbie Ray pumps his fist after getting out of an inning (Photo by Proof N the Play)
D-MO starts the show
Filling in for starting shortstop JP Crawford, Dylan Moore kicked off the scoring for the Mariners. With some traffic already on base thanks to a fielder's choice and an Adam Frazier walk, Dylan Moore came to the plate. While Moore has received middling playing time as a utility player, he came up big for the Mariners in the late innings of the game.
With runners on second and third, Moore turned on a hanging curveball in the middle of the zone. Moore hit the ball to left field, towering as it left and finding a new home in “Edgar’s” cantina. The three-run jack gave Seattle the lead, and who we mention next would help add some insurance to that lead.
Dylan Moore got the start at shortstop for Seattle with JP Crawford out due to injury (Photo by Proof N the Play)
French revolution
Heading into this game, Mariners first baseman Ty France had a hitless streak in his last 20 plate appearances. The first baseman would be able to snap that nasty streak today, recording two hits. One of those two hits would produce an insurance run, and it too came late in the game. An inning after the Moore homer, France would strike.
In the bottom of the seventh, France would lead off. Seattle's first baseman took an inside pitch deep to left field, giving the Mariners a four-run lead. Seattle's first baseman collected two hits on the day, and the potential for him to get his groove back is gigantic. Here’s to hoping that France has found his rhythm again.
Quick notes
Mariners starting pitchers have gone five or more innings pitched with no more than two walks allowed in 12 consecutive outings for the first time since May 26-June 7 of 2000.
Coming into today's game, Seattle had played seven consecutive contests that were decided by two or less runs, the longest such streak of the season.
Seattle leads baseball in one-run games won, with 28.
This win is the 100th at home against Cleveland for the Mariners.
Over their last 19 series, Seattle owns a series record of 13-4-2
Seattle will face Cleveland and slugger Jose Ramirez in the second series of their upcoming road trip (Photo by Proof N the Play)
What’s next?
The Mariners will now head to the Midwest for two three-game series against the Detroit Tigers, and the Cleveland Guardians once again. Seattle must take advantage of three games against a bad Tigers, and hopefully take over the top Wild card spot. The Mariners will have to then again test themselves against this Guardians team, just in Cleveland.