The Seattle Mariners extended their winning streak to seven games on Sunday, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 6-3 at home. Josh Naylor and Cal Raleigh both contributed crucial home runs in a commanding effort that helped the Mariners hold off their visitors. This victory underscored the Mariners’ strong form as they continue to push toward the postseason.
Strong Performances from Mariners’ Pitching and Offense
Starting pitcher Bryan Woo maintained his impressive consistency, pitching at least six innings for the 23rd game in a row this season. Woo gave up three runs on seven hits, issued one walk, and tied his career-best with nine strikeouts, stabilizing the Mariners’ defense. Reliever Matt Brash secured the save to close the game, marking his third save this season and second in the series.
On the offensive side, Cal Raleigh launched his major league-leading 45th home run of the season, marking his third consecutive game with a homer. Raleigh’s achievement places him alongside Johnny Bench for the second-most homers in a single season by a catcher in MLB history, trailing only Salvador Perez’s record by three homers. Josh Naylor also added a critical two-run homer in the seventh inning, helping the Mariners pull away.
Rays Show Resilience but Fall Short
Tampa Bay’s Adrian Houser started the game with some difficulty but settled to pitch five innings, allowing four runs on six hits, walking three, and striking out four. Despite the early challenges, Houser managed to navigate through the Mariners’ lineup and limited further damage after the opening inning, which saw the Mariners score four runs against him.
The Rays fought back with runs across the second, third, and fourth innings. Ha-Seong Kim was pivotal for Tampa Bay, doubling and hitting a solo home run that brought the Rays within striking distance. Randy Arozarena also contributed by reaching base and forcing pressure on the Mariners early in the game.
Key Moments and Impact of the Victory
The game’s turning point came in the first inning when Seattle’s offense surged, highlighted by Raleigh’s home run. Following this, Julio Rodriguez and Josh Naylor applied continued pressure with hits and walks, allowing Eugenio Suarez to deliver a two-run single that loaded the bases. Although the Rays managed to stop further scoring then, the Mariners maintained their lead.
Dominic Canzone helped seal the victory with a run-scoring single in the eighth inning, finalizing a 6-3 victory. This win capped a strong 9-1 homestand for Seattle, reinforcing their position as a competitive team heading into the season’s final stretch.
Overall, the victory illustrated the Mariners’ balanced strength in batting and pitching, with Josh Naylor’s homer providing a key boost. Their continued success will be crucial as they seek to maintain momentum late in the season and secure a playoff spot.