By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA – Coming off of last night's thriller, the Seattle Mariners created yet another classic in an 8-7 victory over the defending World Series champion Atlanta Braves. Julio Rodriguez and Eugenio Suarez brought the offense, as both slammed two-homers each. Starter Marco Gonzales brought his best self today, containing one of the best lineups in all of baseball. Seattle takes two of three games against Atlanta, and are in the second Wild card spot in the American league.
Julio Rodriguez rounds third after his lead off homer (Photo by Proof N the Play)
Marco makes magic of his own
Starting pitcher Marco Gonzales has drawn hate, frustration, and just overall distaste at time from this Seattle fan base. It has been discussed by us after his rough starts, but his good and great starts must also be discussed. In a critical rubber match that held the balance of a Wild card as well as keeping up that playoff race, Gonzales needed to deliver against a great lineup.
The only blemish on the outing by Gonzales was the solo homer he gave up to Austin Riley, but outside of that blast, Marco was clean and efficient. Gonzales went six innings, allowing only two hits, one of which was that solo homer. Marco did not walk anybody, and struck out five. The Gonzaga alum faced the minimum four times, and set the table for his teammates to bring home the win.
Starter Marco Gonzales threw a great game for Seattle (Photo by Proof N the Play)
Julio and Geno: Bash brothers
Julio Rodriguez and Eugenio Suarez both homered twice in this game, and those four homers between the two teammates came at very different moments. Rodriguez opened up the ballgame with a leadoff solo shot, kicking us off with a bang. It marked Julio’s 24th blast of the year, and added more to his case for American league rookie of the year. In the fifth inning, Suarez helped add on to the lead Seattle had begun to build with a solo shot of his own, pushing the Mariners advantage to 5-1 Heading into the seventh inning
When the Mariners bullpen, which has been shut down all season, blew the lead and gave up five runs, Rodriguez and Suarez ensured that the packed house didn’t go home disappointed. 45,245 fans at T-Mobile Park exclaimed with joy as Julio took one of the greatest closers of all time in Kenley Jansen deep with a lightning bolt of a homer. Rodriguez’s game tying blast set up Eugenio for the walk off winner, and Suarez didn’t blow his shot. Seattle’s third baseman took Jansen all the way out to left center field, his second walk off of the year.
Eugenio Suarez hit the walk off winner in the bottom of the 9th (Photo by Proof N the Play)
Take this one in
This is a huge win for the Mariners. Not only does Seattle take two games out of three against the defending World Series champions, but they were toe to toe with them in each ballgame. The Mariners pitching did what it has done all season, the bats saw some great power hitting. Eugenio Suarez is on fire, having hit five homers over his last six hits. This Mariners team continues to impress, and is one of the best rosters Seattle has had from its baseball time in years. Something really special is brewing at T-Mobile Park, and you will not want to miss it. Come on down and join us, we hope to see you there.
Sam Haggerty made a diving play in left field (Photo by Proof N the Play)
Quick notes
In the past two wins, Seattle starters George Kirby and Marco Gonzales combined for 12 innings pitched, five hits, one earned run, no walks, and eleven strikeouts.
Seattle’s Julio Rodriguez and Atlanta’s Michael Harris II are the first players age 21-or-younger to hit two or more homers in the same game in MLB history.
The Mariners are one of seven teams with a winning record against teams at or above .500.
Julio Rodriguez is the youngest player in MLB history, and the first player in franchise history, to hit a leadoff homer and a game-tying/go-ahead homer in the ninth inning or later of the same game.
With his leadoff home run today, Julio Rodríguez now has 50 extra-base hits this season, tied with Ichiro Suzuki (2001) for 4th-most XBH by a rookie in club history.
What’s next?
The Mariners get a well-earned day off tomorrow on Monday, before beginning a two-game series against the San Diego Padres. Juan Soto, Manny Machado and the Padres visit town starting Tuesday, September 13th with a first pitch time of 6:40PM PST. Seattle will wrap up their homestand against a San Diego team with one of the best rosters in baseball, but considering the Mariners just beat the defending champs, it shouldn’t be a huge deal.
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