3:14 AM UTC
SEATTLE – From the deepest despair to the most exhilarating ecstasy, the Mariners rode a deranged roller coaster in Sunday’s thrilling ninth inning that ended with 8 The game ended with a score of 7 – victory over the Warriors.
It has pain. It has gloom. But, according to their 21-year-old star rookie, it was never in doubt.
Julio RodrÃguez in Kenley Kenley Jansen hit a tying homer, followed by Eugenio Suárez, who surrendered 5 runs at Seattle’s lights-out bullpen to put them in In jeopardy, it followed with a departure blast that propelled the Mariners to their most thrilling win yet with two outs in the top of the ninth.
Mariners beat No. 1 Atlanta from cruise to full afternoon, sober A great reminder of why the Warriors, the defending World Series champions, returned to the top spot in one of the most chaotic ninth innings in MLB this season. Combined with a sold-out 45,245, these two teams are fast-tracking into the playoffs, and Sunday’s matinee has all the ingredients for an instant classic in October.
“It’s a playoff game,” Marco Gonzalez That said, he played six great innings. “That’s how we need to deal with it.” Do not drop to the lowest point.
Atlanta fell to despite reliever Diego Castillo ) walked his first two hitters, but it was two outs in the final, but Michael Harris II sent almost all of Seattle in with a 433-foot moonshot. Code Red, it might be worth his early consideration for a home run derby here next summer.
Mariners manager Scott Servius then turns to Paul Cival Germany, perhaps better later than most expected, but Sewald – despite avoiding numerous crises – gave up a line-driven single against Eddie Rosario and a quasi-dagger, and Robbie Grossman swept into the right field twice to propel the Warriors Team Lead. For the first time since the June 21, 2011 loss to the Nationals, the Mariners’ bullpen led by 4 with 2 outs in the ninth inning before giving up 5 or more.
Sewald who has been one of the best lever releasers in AL for the past two years Deflated – but position players quickly pinned him in the dugout.
“Everybody says things like this: “You saved us 25 times this year . Every once in a while, we can save you,” Sewald said. “So I really appreciate the fact that they hit those two home runs. ninth. “
Even for a club thriving in late-stage thrillers, If self-doubt creeps in and doesn’t appear to be there — especially for Rodriguez, who, despite his desperation, gave a megawatt smile as he ran past midfield before his decisive hitter.
What made him so confident that the Mariners would go through so bravely?
“Because I believe in this team,” Rodriguez said. “I think Everyone comes in every day and puts in their work. I feel like everyone is doing their best for the team. I feel like we compete, we just show up. I feel like we have a chance, we have players who can compete with anyone and that’s why I’m confident that we can make it in the last innings because I know what we have in this team. “
in a 1-1 game against three-time All-Star Jensen With 57 playoff games in play, Rodriguez saw a dangling slider and didn’t miss, shooting an astonishing 117.2 mph off the left field scoreboard — something that hasn’t happened since Statcast started tracking it in 2015. Maximum exit speed for a Mariner home run.
“Every time he Hit base, we all have a chance to score,” Suarez said. “I swear, I tell everyone: ‘If Julio hits base, we have a chance to win this game. ‘ That’s what happened. Like I always say, everything Julio does is special. “
Rodriguez may be the Mariners’ best player, but Suarez Suarez has been their hottest player of late. Both hit two home runs on Sunday, and Suarez has hit four in his last four games and 10 in his last 22 games, no more than The home run was even bigger, and it was only the second time in his career, both this season.
Also at 1-1, Suarez hit a low inside fastball into the home bullpen and sent a T-Mobile Park into an earthquake to bow for arguably the biggest win of the season – So far.
“I know what I can do,” Suarez said, He lives up to his mantra of ‘only good vibes’. ‘I believe in myself, I’m just here to enjoy the game. The situation doesn’t matter. It’s been a while for me, and I’ve learned this from people like Miguel Cabrera and Joey Votto. Keep calm, that’s what I try to do every day. “
Win Mariners’ playoff odds improve, according to FanGraphs By 99.8 percent, they were tied with Tampa Bay for the top spot in the AL wild-card standings and just half a game ahead of Toronto for third and final. Six games, plus a tiebreaker, separated Seattle from Baltimore, The first team to watch outside.
22 games left, The drought is coming to an end, barring an epic meltdown. But at this point, how likely is a spiral, especially after beating the defending champs who scream “we belong.”
These Mariners are proving they are a playoff-caliber team, and Sunday is the best example of.
