Mariners notes: Division lead intact, confidence unshaken after series loss to Mets
Trent Thornton had Mets slugger Pete Alonso behind 2-2, and delivered what typically induces major-league bats to whiff or surrender a called-strike three –a 94-mph fastball that dotted the upper-inside corner.
Yet Alonso, already with a line-drive home run in the third inning, somehow mashed another. The well-located four-seamer from Seattle’s reliever wound up a souvenir, and Alonso’s 100th RBI eventually landed in Citi Fields’ left-center seats.
It was a seventh-inning no-doubter, some 107 mph off Alonso’s bat. His first left Citi Field at 115 mph.
But even as Alonso jogged the bases twice and the Mets celebrated a series win over the Mariners at Citi Field, Seattle finds itself in front of the American League West, in September, for the first time since 2001. And there’s little time to worry as just 26 games remain on the regular-season schedule, of which the final 10 are against the Rangers and Astros.
J.P. Crawford lifted the Mariners to victory in Saturday’s middle-game, a contest that teetered until Seattle’s shortstop led off the ninth inning with a solo homer to right. The Mariners escaped, 8-7, making Sunday a rubber match.
“He’s a different player now than what you saw the last couple of years,” manager Scott Servais said. “His ability to drive the ball, looking for certain pitches to drive the ball. Not just to get on base there, but do damage. He’s been awesome coming up big for us.”
Crawford again dug in against Ottovino on Sunday, the tying run with two outs and Seattle’s last hope for more magic. Deja vu struck, but Crawford struck out.
Pending Houston’s result with the Yankees later Sunday, the Mariners will either hold sole possession of the AL West or share the lead with Houston. Seattle holds a tiebreaker over the Astros if the regular season ends with the clubs tied.
The Rangers remain 1.5 games behind.
“It’s been a while since we lost a series,” Servais chuckled. “We made a few mistakes, and the mistakes didn’t end up as singles or doubles. They ended up over the fence. (New York has) power.”
The Mariners haven’t suffered a series sweep since June 4 (Texas), and their 21 wins in August set a franchise record for wins in a month.
“We always make it interesting,” Servais said. “We typically always get the tying run to the plate. Sometimes we come through. Sometimes they make pitches, and that’s what happened today.”
FRANCE HIT BY PITCH, EXITS WITH ELBOW CONTUSION
Seattle’s first baseman has an unfortunate knack for getting hit, and Ty France’s major-league-leading 29th hit-by-pitch on Saturday immediately removed him from Citi Field with a right elbow contusion.
A wayward 95-mph sinker from Mets reliever Grant Hartwig found France’s unguarded back elbow. Pain was instant — he jogged near Seattle’s on-deck circle and doubled over.
Servais and trainers quickly deemed France’s night over. Mike Ford pinch-ran, soon tapped for first base duties in Sunday’s series finale with the Mets.
France was missing from Sunday’s lineup, his elbow wrapped when he arrived at Citi Field’s visiting clubhouse.
“(He’s) sore,” Servais said. “Before we left last night, I made the decision that I wasn’t going to play him today.
“He got hit really hard. … We’ll see how he responds.”
X-rays were negative on Saturday night, and it appears France may have avoided a long-term absence.
“We’ll see how he responds, and if it’s not responding, then we would take the next step after that,” Servais said. “It’s been a rough year. He gets hit a lot. You get hit that many times, it’s not going to be a positive.
“Fingers crossed that he’s OK and that we can get him back in there soon.”
KELENIC JOINS RAINIERS FOR REHAB ASSIGNMENT
The Mariners anticipate the return of Jarred Kelenic – and the 24-year-old made his first return to game action for Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday, going 1-for-3 with a walk. He struck out twice.
Kelenic ripped a hard-hit single up the middle at Cheney Stadium on just the second pitch he saw, an instant contribution since his unfortunate-and-unforeseen absence since July 20.
A major-league return in early September would mean an on-time return for Kelenic, who kicked a cooler in frustration late in a July 19 game and fractured his left foot. Seattle continues to employ a left-field platoon in his absence, primarily manned by recent trade-acquisition Dominic Canzone and rookie Cade Marlowe.
But Kelenic would presumably command the majority of the left-field timeshare upon his return, which could dwindle if Canzone’s recent hit parade continues (5-for-14, two HRs in Canzone’s last four games). Kelenic received consistent playing time throughout Tacoma’s recent series with Triple-A Sugar Land – he went 2-for-8 with three walks and three strikeouts, through Saturday.
SHORT HOPS
– A pair of familiar faces returned to the franchise, one to Triple-A Tacoma and another to the Mariners: RHP Dominic Leone reported to the major league club Friday, and catcher Luis Torrens signed a minor-league deal before reporting to the Rainiers.
Leone was originally selected by the Mariners in the 16th round of the 2012 draft, and he made his major-league debut with Seattle in 2014. He’s a veteran these days, now having appeared in parts of 10 major-league seasons with eight clubs.
Packaged by Seattle to the Diamondbacks in a 2015 deal for Mark Trumbo and Vidal Nuno, Leone is a Mariner once again – claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels as a depth piece for a postseason-ready bullpen. His first relief outing for the Mariners in eight years lasted 1 ⅓ innings at Citi Field on Sunday, cut short by a leadoff homer by Jeff McNeil in the fifth inning.
First with the Torrens news was Rainiers broadcaster Mike Curto. The 27-year-old appeared in 181 games for the Mariners from 2020-22 and now returns to the club after 13 games for Chicago (NL) in 2023. He’s 1-for-7 through two games with Triple-A Tacoma this week.
– Teoscar Hernandez ripped a single to left field Sunday, extending the second-longest hit streak of his career to 12 games. He struggled in the early going of the campaign – and was perhaps shaded by the spotlight on Julio Rodriguez’s record-setting month – but Hernandez quietly put up some of baseball’s best hitting numbers in August and has continued the stretch into September.
Since August 2, Hernandez is slashing .366/.392/.670 (through Saturday) with eight home runs, 25 RBI, and a 1.061 OPS. He blasted his 24th home run in Saturday’s middle game with the Mets, one shy of his 2022 total with Toronto. He can’t remember a better career month both individually and team-wide, fresh off a franchise-record 21 wins for a calendar month.
“Our purpose… is to play hard, do our best, and win every single game,” Hernandez said Wednesday. “I’m trying to put pride on everything that I have to do to make me better and make the team better.”
– Julio Rodriguez continues to set all-time records – he is the first player in MLB history with 10-plus homers, 10-plus stolen bases and 100-or-more total bases in a 30-game span, per Mariners PR.
ON DECK
Seattle’s longest-remaining road trip this season continues at Cincinnati (Sep. 4-6) and concludes with a four-game series at Tampa Bay (Sep. 7-10).
The Mariners return to T-Mobile Park on Sep. 11 for a six-game homestand with the Angels and NL-contending Dodgers.
This story was originally published September 3, 2023 at 3:00 PM with the headline "Mariners notes: Division lead intact, confidence unshaken after series loss to Mets."
