Mariners notes: Arozarena walks off Astros; Robles to miss at least three months
Randy Arozarena’s eighth-inning grand slam brought the Mariners offense back to life in Wednesday’s series finale with the Houston Astros.
His walk-off walk in the ninth inning won it.
Down five runs with two innings to play in a rubber match? No problem for Seattle’s left fielder.
In two of the game’s biggest at-bats, Arozarena delivered twice, breathing life back into the 20,556 in attendance on a beautiful, sunny day at T-Mobile Park. He admired his two-out moonshot slam to left field and struck his famous, arms-folded pose rounding first — then slammed the door on his rivals with game-winning plate discipline.
Held to two total hits in the game’s first seven innings, the Mariners appeared destined for another loss defined by offensive woes. But Arozarena erased all doubts in a wild 7-6 win, if only for a day.
“We play nine innings for a reason,” Julio Rodriguez said.
Seattle’s all-smiles center fielder brought fireworks of his own, scalding a game-tying, two-run double in the ninth inning after Houston added insurance. Astros closer Bryan Abreu inherited a 6-4 lead but fumbled the series away, allowing the tying runs aboard via singles before J.P. Crawford loaded the bases with a late-tag fielder’s choice at third.
All of it set the stage for Arozarena’s heroics. Again.
“Just doing my part, helping the team get a little closer,” Arozarena said through translator Freddy Llanos. “The guys (who followed me) got on base. Julio wasn’t having the greatest series but knocked two runs in when we needed it.
“I know we have a good group. It’s early in the season, but I want to get back to October.”
Houston wasted a fabulous start by right-hander Hunter Brown, who surrendered just two hits with no walks and three strikeouts across six strong innings. He threw 98 pitches and held the Mariners 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position.
Mariners starter Luis F. Castillo — not to be confused with three-time All-Star Luis Castillo, a.k.a ‘La Piedra’ — seemingly settled in and retired the game’s first four batters before the Astros rocked him for two walks and three hits (three runs) in the second inning. He threw 100 pitches and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning to cap his outing, allowing six hits and four runs (three earned) with five walks and three strikeouts.
“It’s what’s inside that clubhouse, it’s what inside each and every one of those guys to be able to do something like that,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “Down (5-0) in a game that was a tough go. … For those guys to come back like they did? That shows a lot.”
What made Wednesday’s victory all the more crucial was the offensive disaster that preceded it Tuesday night. The Mariners struck out 19 times and went 1-for-19 with runners in scoring position, a 12-inning, 2-1 loss that saw Seattle flounder multiple opportunities with the winning run 90 feet away.
“Yesterday, we lost a game we should’ve won,” Arozarena said Wednesday. “This one’s huge.”
It’s Seattle’s first series win of the season. The Mariners improved to 5-8 and remain 3.5 games behind the Texas Rangers for the division lead.
Before Wednesday, they ranked dead last (30th) in team batting average (.196) among MLB clubs and 24th in team OPS (.623). When Seattle does put traffic on the basepaths, they’re 30th in hitting with runners in scoring position (.121), some 11-for-91.
And while the road doesn’t get easier this weekend when AL West-leading Texas visits town, the Mariners enter with momentum. Seattle’s Bryce Miller duels two-time NL Cy Young Award Winner Jacob deGrom (2018-19) for a 6:40 p.m. first pitch.
ROBLES LANDS ON INJURED LIST
The catch of his life will cost Victor Robles at least three months on the injured list — and potentially more.
Seattle’s energetic right fielder sacrificed his body to complete one of the better catches you’ll ever see in Sunday’s series finale at San Francisco, but an unbelievable highlight turned for the worst when the 27-year-old collapsed to the dirt in obvious pain.
Tied in the ninth inning, Giants catcher Patrick Bailey sliced a fly ball down the right field line. Robles dashed, tracked, and somehow stole an at-bat for the second out, crashing into a lower wall in foul territory and falling violently into protective netting.
Robles had turned in a Catch of the Year nomination -- but the netting hurt him more than it helped. Julio Rodriguez was first to aid his teammate and promptly called for trainers, an abrupt ninth-inning pause as Oracle Park fell silent. And once Robles was eventually carted away, the Mariners lost on the very next pitch when San Francisco’s Wilmer Flores delivered a walk-off single to right field.
“He made one of the best, all-out, had-no-disregard-for-his-body catches I’ve ever seen,” Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said. “And I hope it’s not the worst case scenario.”
Immediate testing revealed Robles dislocated his left shoulder in the process of completing the remarkable play, and the Mariners placed him on the 10-day injured list Monday afternoon, announced in a release. In a corresponding move, Seattle recalled OF Dominic Canzone from Triple-A Tacoma.
Further imaging taken Monday in Seattle brought worse news: the dislocation caused a small fracture in the humeral head of his left shoulder. In the best of scenarios, Robles’ injury will require six weeks to heal, plus six weeks of rehab. A three-month, 12-week absence is unavoidable.
“It’s a tough blow,” manager Dan Wilson said. “Victor is just such a big part of this club, especially when you talk about what he brings from an emotional standpoint, from a life standpoint.
“The spirit he brings every single day… It’s just awesome to have him around. That’s a big part of what we’ll miss.”
It appears the injury will not require surgery, the Mariners announced, but a procedure would end Robles’ season. He’ll be reevaluated next week.
Robles was acquired by the Mariners in June 2024 and quickly became a lineup fixture. In 77 games with Seattle last season, the spark plug slashed .328/.393/.467 with 26 RBI and 30 stolen bases, earning a two-year, $9.75 million extension in August.
Robles had started strong again in ‘25 with a .273/.283/.341 slash line in 10 games as Seattle’s leadoff hitter.
Canzone is 8-for-29 (.276) with an .861 OPS in eight games with the Rainiers this season, homering twice in Triple-A Tacoma’s 13-8 loss to Reno on Sunday.
“We’re wishing Vic the best and hoping things go as quickly and smoothly as possible,” Wilson said.
INJURY UPDATES
– Second baseman Ryan Bliss landed on the 10-day injured list with a left bicep tear, announced ahead of Wednesday afternoon’s finale with Houston. A defensive bright spot in Seattle’s infield slashed .200/.282/.314 across 11 games this season.
– RHP George Kirby (right shoulder inflammation) threw a bullpen session last weekend and responded well, but it’s to be determined exactly when the Mariners send the 27-year-old strike thrower on a rehab assignment with either High-A Everett or Triple-A Tacoma. “He felt great,” Hollander said. “He’s tracking well.” A return by late April seems optimistic, Hollander noted, and the club plans to provide Kirby with a spring training-like practice progression.
– RHP Matt Brash, who underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2024, threw live batting practice on Wednesday afternoon in Seattle, an important step before the setup reliever with a nasty secondary arsenal heads to Triple-A Tacoma for a rehab assignment. Expect the 26-year-old in a Rainiers uniform by next week, though exact dates are still TBD, Hollander said.
— RHP Jackson Kowar (right ulnar collateral ligament tear), acquired from the Atlanta Braves in Dec. 2023, remains on schedule to begin a lengthier rehab assignment in late April or early May following recovery from Tommy John surgery. Acquired with RHP Cole Phillips in exchange for Jarred Kelenic, Marco Gonzales, and Evan White, the 28-year-old last appeared in a game for the Kansas City Royals in Sept. 2023 and will bolster Seattle’s bullpen depth upon return.
— RHP Troy Taylor (right lat strain) threw a simulated inning on Wednesday, and the Mariners will soon decide whether the 23-year-old needs another rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma or if he’s ready for activation. “He feels great after every outing,” Hollander said.
This story was originally published April 9, 2025 at 6:36 PM with the headline "Mariners notes: Arozarena walks off Astros; Robles to miss at least three months."
