On Friday night, the Seattle Mariners defeated the visiting Oakland Athletics 3-2 in the first game of their three-match series, led by a strong Bryan Woo Mariners pitching performance combined with timely home runs. The win ended Seattle’s five-game losing streak while halting the Athletics’ three-game winning run.
Woo’s Dominant Pitching and Mariners’ Homers Lead the Charge
Starting pitcher Bryan Woo delivered seven innings of solid pitching, giving up only one run on a solo home run and recording seven strikeouts with two walks. Woo maintained his consistency by pitching at least six innings in every start this season. His sole concession was a first-inning homer by Brent Rooker, which found the Mariners’ bullpen in left-center field.
Offensively, the Mariners received key contributions from Eugenio Suarez, Jorge Polanco, and Josh Naylor. Suarez hit his 40th home run of the season, tying him with Aaron Judge for the fourth-most in Major League Baseball. This came after an intense at-bat against A’s rookie pitcher Luis Morales, who had retired the first 13 batters he faced. Naylor’s 100th career home run broke a 1-1 tie in the seventh inning, while Polanco added a solo homer shortly afterward to extend the Mariners’ lead.
Close Ninth Inning Highlights Bullpen Efforts
Mariners’ closer Andres Munoz earned his 30th save despite a tense ninth inning. The Athletics loaded the bases with one out as Rooker and Tyler Soderstrom singled, Jacob Wilson delivered a run-scoring single, and Lawrence Butler drew a walk. Munoz managed to escape damage by getting Darell Hernaiz to fly out and striking out JJ Bleday to end the game.
Strong Showings From Both Teams’ Pitchers
The Athletics’ Luis Morales, pitching in just his third major league start, matched Woo closely with six innings pitched, allowing just one run on two hits without issuing any walks and striking out six. Despite his strong outing, Morales was unable to contain the Mariners’ power bats.
Mariners’ Historic Home Run Milestone
Josh Naylor’s seventh-inning homer was especially significant, making him the fifth Mariner to hit at least 100 career home runs this season. He joined Cal Raleigh, Mitch Garver, Randy Arozarena, and Julio Rodriguez, marking the first time in major league history that a team has five players reach this milestone in a single season.
What This Victory Means for the Mariners
This win highlights the Mariners’ balanced effort, combining a strong Bryan Woo Mariners pitching performance with a potent offense featuring multiple power hitters. The team’s ability to break its losing streak against a divisional rival provides momentum as they continue their series and approach the rest of the season with cautious optimism.