By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA – The Seattle Mariners began a homestand that features eleven games in ten days with a loss to the Boston Red Sox. Boston scrapped an early lead together, but Seattle clawed back late and looked to keep their positive momentum going. Ultimately, the Mariners left 12 total men on base in the game, something that has plagued them all year. If they want to be a “playoff” team, improving with runners in scoring position is a NEED, not a want.
Mariners shortstop JP Crawford looks to throw a ball to a fan (Photo Mathew Bermudez)
Marco's mixed bag
Mariners starter Marco Gonzales had a complex start in game one against Boston. While Gonzales only allowed two hits on the night, he gave up a career high six walks on the night. Marco has seen solid success since a rocky beginning to his 2022 campaign, giving up two or less runs in three of his appearances in May. In the month of May as a whole, Gonzales tied sophomore star Logan Gilbert in the team lead for ERA and innings pitched.
It’s hard to consider this a bad start of Marco, but he could work on something that most of the Seattle starting rotation needs to clean up: walks. 2021 AL Cy Young award winner Robbie Ray has had his ups and downs this year, but walks play a key factor. Logan Gilbert has seen some good success this year, but the lone issue for him has been walks. Command and “controlling the zone” should be an emphasis for the pitching staff going forward.
Marco Gonzales allowed only two hits, but walked six (Photo Mathew Bermudez)
Winker returning to form?
2021 All-Star outfielder Jesse Winker has not had the smoothest beginning to his tenure with the Mariners. From an unlucky string of misfortune to begin the season, to not being able to hit right handers a year after he mashed them, it’s been tough. With outfielders Kyle Lewis and Mitch Haniger on the injured list, many have turned to Winker in hopes of increased production. That production may have been jump started in this game.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, with Luis Torrens on first due to a walk, Jesse Winker blasted a towering homer to right field. Winker had plenty of time to admire his work as the ball rainbowed into the middle of the right field seating sections. In the top of the sixth inning, Winker made a sliding play in left field to catch a ball that would’ve dropped in for a hit, and the fans gave him a standing ovation. A game like tonight could jump start Winkers motor.
Jesse Winker returning to his 2021 form would do wonders for Seattle (Photo Liv Lyons)
Raleigh's rally
Second year catcher Cal Raleigh has mostly struggled in his time at the big-league level, posting a career batting average of .175. When Tom Murphy got injured back in early May, Seattle lost a big piece. Torrens and Raleigh, the other two catchers, were not even close to Murphy’s production at the plate. Raleigh was called up from AAA Tacoma, and since late May he’s been playing his way back to his former top prospect status.
Raleigh now has seven homers this season, tied for second most among American League catchers, and coming into the June 10th contest was posting a .826 OPS since May 18th, good for sixth amongst American League catchers in that time. Raleigh’s single in the bottom of the eighth inning brought a crucial run in for the Mariners, bringing them within one. If Cal Raleigh can continue this pace and become a solid backstop for Seattle, it’s just another positive for a Mariners team that ranks 2nd in baseball for youngest group of position players.
Cal Raleigh has been turning his form around as of late (Photo Liv Lyons)
Quick notes
Ty France went 2-4 on the night, marking his 23rd multi hit effort of the season. He is now tied with Boston third baseman Rafael Devers for the most in baseball.
Ty France leads baseball or is tied for second in almost every offensive category
Eugenio Suarez has reached base safely in 12 consecutive games now, hitting safely in 11 of his last 12 contests since May 28th
The Mariners are now 8-5 over their last 13 games.
Young starter George Kirby will be on the mound for game two (Photo Mathew Bermudez)
Seattle will look to bounce back against this same Red Sox team when the two clubs meet on June 11th with a 7:10PM PST first pitch. Young starter George Kirby will get the nod for the Mariners, as he faces off against Boston starter Michael Wacha. Kirby posts a 1-1 record with a 3.38 ERA on the season, while Wacha has a 4-1 record with a 1.99 ERA.
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