Mariners Close Gap on Astros with Clutch Win Over Cardinals
The Seattle Mariners delivered another statement performance on Monday night, pulling off a 4-2 comeback win over the St. Louis Cardinals at T-Mobile Park. With this victory, Seattle crept within just two games of the Houston Astros in the American League West race, keeping their playoff hopes burning strong.
What made this one special wasn’t an offensive explosion like the one fans saw in Atlanta last week, when the Mariners mashed 10 home runs and scored 28 runs in just two games. Instead, this win was built on patience, timing, and one decisive inning that completely flipped the game.
For the first five frames, Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas looked untouchable. He retired the side in order his first three innings and stranded Seattle’s early chances in the next two. The Mariners entered the sixth inning still trailing 2-0, and it seemed like momentum was firmly in St. Louis’ hands. But then, everything shifted.
Also Read:- Blue Jays’ Division Lead Shrinks as Yankees Close the Gap
- Bolivia Stuns Brazil with a 1-0 Victory in World Cup Qualifiers
It began with Leo Rivas grinding out a nine-pitch walk to lead off the bottom of the sixth. That at-bat set the tone. Randy Arozarena followed with a sharp single up the middle, putting runners on the corners and knocking Mikolas out of the game. Reliever Gordon Graceffo came in, but the Mariners sensed opportunity.
Cal Raleigh drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases, and then Julio RodrÃguez wasted no time. He lined a base hit into left field to score Seattle’s first run, bringing the T-Mobile Park crowd alive. The energy carried straight into Josh Naylor’s at-bat. He smashed a double into the right-center gap, driving in two more to give Seattle the lead. Naylor wasn’t done—he stole third base moments later, catching the defense off guard, and Jorge Polanco brought him home with a sacrifice fly.
In just 14 pitches, the Mariners had gone from being shut down to leading 4-2. That sudden burst was all they needed. The offense went quiet again afterward, but the damage had been done, and the lead was secure.
Manager Dan Wilson praised the team’s approach, pointing out how quickly the game can change with one disciplined at-bat leading to a chain reaction. “That big sixth inning starts with a walk,” Wilson said. “Leo did exactly what we needed to get things rolling.”
The win wouldn’t have been possible without strong pitching. Starter Bryan Woo turned in his 20th quality start of the season, tying for the league lead. He struck out nine in six innings, with the only blemish being a two-run homer by Alec Burleson. The bullpen then handled business with ease, as Matt Brash, Eduard Bazardo, and Andrés Muñoz combined for three clean innings to lock down the win.
The Mariners have shown a knack for striking quickly, and once again that formula paid off. With the Astros still in their sights, every game counts, and this comeback reminded everyone that Seattle is very much in the thick of the AL West race.
Read More:
0 Comments