Toro walks it off to give Mariners 2-1 win over Athletics
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA - In game three of their four game set against the Oakland Athletics, the Seattle Mariners walked the game off in the bottom of the ninth. Abraham Toro, playing third base today, had the bases loaded with no outs. The Mariners would slightly improve their average with the bases loaded, as Toro’s single would make them 11-67 on the season with the bases loaded. In a very critical series and homestand, Seattle now has a great chance to win the series. Getting to .500 before/at the All-star break would be a good sign for Seattle, who at times this season have looked like they were out of the playoff race already. Seattle will have a solid chance at that with ace Robbie Ray on the mound for the Sunday game.
Reliever Diego Castillo recorded the win (Photo Birdzeyeviewvisuals)
Toro time!
Infielder Abraham Toro has had a really interesting career with the Seattle Mariners. Acquired at the trade deadline last year for Kendall Graveman, Toro was the subject of criticism early. Graveman was a clubhouse favorite for the Mariners, as well as a fan favorite. In his first couple games for Seattle, Toro would homer. Later in the season, Toro hit a grand slam off of Graveman, the man he had been traded for. So far this season, even in solid playing time, Toro has relatively struggled to make an impact. Still with an odd knack to record hits in the late innings of games, the Mariners could use a bigger impact from Toro. They got some of that in today’s win.
The bases were loaded thanks to Eugenio Suarez walking (Marcus Wilson came in to pinch run), a Carlos Santana single, and a Cal Raleigh single off of an error. Toro came to the plate with the bases loaded and no outs, which would normally be a gigantic green light. Considering that the Mariners were ten for 66 with the bases loaded on the season, Seattle fans have little reason for excitement with the base paths filled. Toro would laser a ball to deep right center field, barely falling out of the reach of an outstretched Oakland players glove, and Marcus Wilson would score. Seattle would take the win, and go up in the series 2-1.
George Kirby had a great start for Seattle (Photo Fred “Beezie” Byrdwell
Kirby’s dreamland
Young Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby’s last start was poor, giving up seven earned runs to the Baltimore Orioles, with four homers. Kirby rebounded from that terrible outing with a seven inning performance, allowing only three hits and one earned run. Kirby continues to be great at minimizing hits walk, only giving up one while striking out nine. The 6’4” starter has historic numbers when it comes to his strikeout to walk ratio, and that trend continued in the Saturday afternoon outing. Kirby has put his team in position to win the game in six of his ten starts, which is pretty solid considering that he has never pitched at the AAA level. Being called up from AA to the majors is not exactly ideal from a development standpoint as well as on other levels, but Kirby seems to have more upside than negative to his game.
Left fielder Jesse Winker has his suspension at six games (Photo Birdseyeviewvisuals)
Quick notes
Left fielder Jesse Winker was able to shorten his suspension from seven games to six games.
Center fielder Julio Rodriguez was awarded the AL Rookie of the month award for June, his second time winning the award.
Julio Rodriguez is one of three players to record ten homers and 20 stolen bases before the All-Star break in his first MLB season, joining Mitchell Page (In 1977 with Oakland) and Chris Sabo (in 1988 with Cincinnati).
Julio Rodriguez has won back to back rookie of the month awards in the American League (Photo Birdseyeviewvisuals)
The win is very critical for the Mariners, and winning the series tomorrow is a big deal. While it does have to be considered that there are several months left in the season, Seattle has gotten into slumps before as a team. Getting into any more of those really could seriously damage the Mariners postseason plans, for a 21st consecutive season. With the win, the Mariners have won nine of their last eleven games, without several key players such as Ty France (injury), JP Crawford (suspension), Kyle Lewis (injured), Mitch Haniger (injured), Tom Murphy (injured), and Luis Torrens (injured). If the Mariners can continue to find ways to win and take advantage of the starting pitching that they have, when they get those players back. Seattle is in good position to return to the top of the position.
First pitch in the series finale is tomorrow, July 3rd at 1:10PM PST. The Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners will finish up their series at T-Mobile Park as Robbie Ray gets the start for the Mariners. Ray has been on an incredible run over the past month, only allowing two runs in the last two games. His last four starts have been quality starts. In the month of June, Ray had a strikeout to walk ratio of 37-13. Oakland will send out Frankie Montas to pitch against Seattle, Montas had a perfect game through seven innings in his last start against the Mariners.