2:35 AM UTC
SEATTLE – As the summer comes to a close, the Nationals are struggling to settle. They’re looking for signs of encouragement, occasional moments of brilliance and shining role models they can pay in the winter as they continue to rebuild.
So they pieced together a 3-1 win at T-Mobile Park on Wednesday afternoon The way the Mariners played had to make them smile.
They got a gritty bend from Anibal Sanchez Dow-don’t break start, excellent stretch from four back-up pitchers and one in the ninth, Ildemaro Vargas on Paul Sewald, who was closer to the Mariners Got a crucial tiebreaker homer to set up a happy flight back to DC.
Nationals end three-game losing streak, leaving Mariners one game , and played a two-game series at an inopportune time for Seattle, which is fighting for points for the American League wild card. This comes after a four-game road series against the Padres, who are also in the playoff mix.
“We played well throughout the road [trip],” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “They’ve been fantastic. Really. They’ve pitched really well from starters to backups. We’ve done well, but we have to create more chances and try to push the game, especially with fewer than two outs.
” But I can’t say how hard we played, today Vargas picked us up on the final home run. “
Early on, for the Nationals, with the Mariners starting The bobsled race seemed tough George Kirby was pitching. Kirby opened with 24 consecutive at-bats, a major league record in the pitching track era (since 1988). But the Nats gave him hits — in seven innings Eight innings — and scored in Game 1, when three consecutive singles culminated in Nelson Cruz’s RBI singles to left field.
Sanchez put the Mariners off balance and gave up a hit in the first four innings as Washington went 1-0. But he pitched Gradually increasing, Martinez turned right-hander Hunter Harvey without hesitation after Sanchez’s 81st pitch when Carlos Santana took the lead in the fifth and moved up to third on a Ty France base.
Harvey made only 11 throws, but two of them were over 100 mph, of which Seven is 99-plus mph. He strikes out Carl Raleigh and Dylan Moore in a row to end the threat.
Victor Alano followed with a 1 1/3 inning scoreless relief and struck out. Carl Edwards Jr. came in after that, also pitching 1 1/3 innings And struck out two innings. Edwards made a mistake and Mariners rookie Julio Rodriguez tied it in left midfield in the eighth, but Kyle Finnegan pulled out of that one innings and then scoreless in the ninth inning.
“It’s very It’s fun,” Xavi said of a tight game that required a bullpen. “It’s fun to get into the game in a clutch situation and be able to get out of it. It’s just an interesting opportunity. Everyone here is fighting to stay, so every day you’re competing desperately. So that’s what it’s all about. “
Vargas has this sentiment too.
The 31-year-old journeyman, who played for the Cubs earlier this season and was taken as a free agent in late May Signed by Washington, he said he would love to return to the Nationals next season and that he is doing everything he can to show them he belongs to them.
As for the home run, Vargas said seeing Seward in Tuesday night’s loss to Seattle helped a lot.
“I’m always looking to take advantage of the fastball and make hard touches,” Vargas said of the interpreter “Luckily I got one and took advantage of it. “
Martinez says he likes Vargas’ energy and versatility, captain Definitely see where he can come back to the club in 2023.
“He Playing short, he plays second, he’s great in every aspect of the infield, and he can play corner outfield positions as well,” Martinez said. “So that’s what I’m talking about right now. We have five or six weeks left. I want to see what these guys can do because it means so much for the future. ”
