The Mariners finally snatched a win in Anaheim, taking the series finale 7-2 after dropping the first two games to the so-called “worst team in the American League.” It was a much-needed bounce back, especially on a bizarre “Jo Adell Home Run Robbery Bobblehead Night”,yeah, that guy who isn’t even an Angel anymore, but haunted us earlier this season, as Aaron Goldsmith and Angie Mentink helpfully reminded us on the broadcast. This win felt like a small but vital step in showing what this team is made of when things get tough.
First Inning Fireworks and Kirby’s Escape Act
Our M’s wasted no time getting on the board, jumping out to an early lead in the top of the first against their former All-Star, Yusei Kikuchi. J.P. Crawford and Randy Arozarena kicked things off with back-to-back singles, followed by a walk to Dominic Canzone to load the bases with nobody out. Cal Raleigh then opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly to left, bringing Crawford home. Josh Naylor kept the pressure on, grounding a single through the right side to put us up 2-0. But the bottom of the first started almost exactly the same way for George Kirby, who loaded the bases himself with a single and two walks. Vaughn Grissom cut our lead in half with a shallow sac fly that tested Arozarena’s arm, making it 2-1. Thankfully, unlike their top half, our guys limited the damage when Moisés Ballesteros hit a liner right to Crawford at short, who smartly stepped on second to double up Mike Trout and end the inning. Talk about getting out of a jam!
Raleigh Delivers Again as M’s Pull Away
That lead didn’t last long, though. In the bottom of the second, the Angels tied it up on an RBI single from former Mariner Adam Frazier, after Denzer Guzman and Josh Lowe reached base. Kirby had a little trouble barehanding Lowe’s bunt, but he showed his resolve by striking out the side with the bases loaded to avoid disaster once again. After a couple of quiet innings for both sides, the Mariners hopped back in front in the top of the fifth. Kikuchi walked a pair of hitters with one out, and even with his pitch count at a hefty 96, Angels manager Kurt Suzuki stuck with him. Big mistake. Three pitches and three runs later, Kikuchi was toast! Cal Raleigh absolutely roped a double down the right field line to score a run, pushing the M’s ahead, and even though Grissom snagged a Josh Naylor grounder, we were already up big.
Bouncing back in a series after dropping the first two, especially against a team that gave us fits earlier this season, is exactly the kind of form we need to see from this squad. This game showed some grit. Now, we need to carry that momentum forward and keep grinding.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Lookout Landing.
Leave a Reply