Mariners’ success with bases loaded leads to commanding 9-2 win over Rockies
By Bel Garcia
Seattle, WA - In a night for honoring Jackie Robinson and the impact he made on the league by breaking the color barrier, the Mariners finally got a hold of their bases loaded issues. Today marked the 76th anniversary of the great Jackie Robinsons debut in Major League Baseball. On the April 15th, 2009 edition of Jackie Robinson Day, it became a tradition for every player, coach, and manager to wear the #42. In today’s ballgame, the number 42 was worn by both teams. Both teams wore special clothes in their warmups and pregame routines to honor the legendary Robinson, embracing his legacy and the impact that he made on baseball and the world. It was a special day across the league, but a special night for the Mariners who finally got their bats to wake up when the bases were loaded. A momentum swing for Seattle was brought by third baseman, Eugenio Suarez. After a cold start to the night for the Mariners bats, he slammed a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game and put Seattle on the board. It was a response that the Mariners needed, after starting pitch George Kirby gave up three hits in the second inning, which resulted in Elehuris Montero driving in CJ Cron for the Rockies.
Pregame festivities and warmups saw players and staff of both teams wear special Jackie Robinson day shirts and hats to honor the legacy of the legendary ballplayer (Photos by Mathew Bermudez)
Mariners let it rain
Suarez’s home run seemed to wake up his teammates bats, as they had their first big inning in the fourth. Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh was first to get on base, followed by Tommy La Stella and Kolten Wong drawing walks to load the bases for JP Crawford. The air left the stadium as fans are used to the team blowing big opportunities when the bases are loaded. Nevertheless, the excitement was felt as JP connected on a four-seam ball from Colorado starter Ryan Feltner that advanced all on base, scoring Raleigh. Seattle kept the chaos going with Julio Rodriguez stepping up to the plate with the bases still loaded. After three pitches to Rodriguez, he tripled to right field, sending the ball far enough to score all three runners. The collection of walks and hits amounted to an inning that would put the Mariners up 5-1.
A second opportunity to tack on some scoring runs arose when the Mariners found themselves in a bases loaded situation in the bottom of the sixth. All eyes were on Jarred Kelenic to continue his four-game home run streak. While his streak ended, he was a part of another big inning. Kelenic singled to left field to start loading the bases, followed by Wong (Fielders choice) and Crawford (walk). Julio Rodriguez once again secured a hit, scoring Kelenic while advancing Wong and Crawford. Both Ty France and Eugenio Suarez were hit by pitches, and Geno’s hit by pitch scored Wong, advancing France and Rodriguez. Cal Raleigh walked, scoring Rodriguez, advancing Suarez and France. Teoscar Hernandez singled as the Rockies third baseman knocked the ball down but couldn’t make a play, scoring France and keeping the bases loaded. Jarred Kelenic struck out, stopping the bleeding for the Rockies but the Mariners lead had grown to 9-1.
Seattle’s offense through pictures (Photos by Mathew Bermudez)
Kirby returns to dreamland
Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby had another great showing on the mound, only giving up two runs in total, one in the second and one in the seventh. Following the Elias Diaz double that scored CJ Cron in the seventh, Penn Murfee came in to relieve Kirby. The starters day ended with a line of six innings pitched, six hits, two runs, two earned runs, and three strikeouts.
Seattle starting pitcher George Kirby had another solid outing for the Mariners (Photos by Mathew Bermudez)
Quick notes
Julio Rodríguez drove in 4 of the Mariners 9 runs in tonight’s game. It is the second time in his career that he has had 4+ RBI in a single game (last: 7/15/22 @ TEX).
Rodríguez’s 3 RBI triple in the bottom of the 4th inning marked his first triple of the 2023 season.
His 3-run triple is the second in Mariners history on the anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s debut, joining Ken Griffey Jr. on April 15, 1994.
The last bases clearing triple by a Mariners player came on 6/15/21 by Shed Long Jr. vs. MIN.
Teoscar Hernández went 2-for-5 with 1 RBI in tonight’s game.
He extended his hitting streak to 6 games (4/9-c) and on base streak to 13 games (4/1-c) on a single in the bottom of the 2nd inning.
The last time he had a hitting streak of 6+ games was 8/28/22 – 9/5/22 w/ TOR.
In the last 6 games, Hernández is batting .357 (10x28) with 3 runs, 10 hits, 1 double, 1 home run and 5 RBI.
In his 3rd start of the year, George Kirby tossed 6.1 innings, allowed 6 hits, 2 runs (2 ER), struck out 3 and did not walk a batter.
Kirby has issued only 1 walk since the start of the 2023 season. He is the 12th Mariners starter to allow no more than 1 walk in his first 3 starts in a single season (last: Logan Gilbert 4/9/22).
Tonight was Kirby’s longest start of the 2023 season so far.
Jarred Kelenic’s single in the bottom of the 6th inning marked the 100th hit of his career. With this hit, he extended his hitting streak to a career high 9 games (4/2-c).
After a walk in the bottom of the 6th inning, Ty France extended his on base streak to 12 games (4/2-c).
In the last 12 games he is batting .333 (17x51) with 17 hits, 6 doubles, 8 RBI and 11 runs.
Eugenio Suarez extended his on-base streak to 12 games (4/2-c) after a leadoff home run in the bottom of the 4th inning.
His home run scored the first run of the night for the Mariners and began a 5-run inning.
J.P. Crawford went 2-for-2 on the night with 1 run and 1 RBI on the night.
Cal Raleigh picked up 1 hit, 1 run and 1 RBI in tonight’s game. He has reached base safely in each of his last 6 starts.
Jose Caballero made his Major League debut in tonight’s game, entering as shortstop to start the 9th inning.
The Mariners bullpen (Penn Murfee and Diego Castillo) combined for 2.2 innings tonight.
Murfee has pitched 5.0 innings this season and has not allowed an earned run.
There were 3 pitch timer violations on the night: Julio Rodríguez – SEA (batter timer), Ryan Feltner – COL (pitcher) and Brent Suter – COL (pitcher).
Rockies Asst. Hitting Coach P.J. Pilittere was ejected in the top of the 5th inning
Mariners third baseman Eugenio Suarez is interviewed postgame by Root Sports’ Jen Mueller (Photos by Mathew Bermudez)
What’s next?
Seattle will look to complete a sweep of Colorado when the teams meet tomorrow, Sunday April 16th, for the series finale. The Mariners are hosting another “little league day,” as all kids 14 and under will receive a poster that features infielders Ty France and JP Crawford. First pitch for the finale of the series is at 1:10PM PST, as Seattle will have their ace Luis Castillo on the mound to faceoff against Rockies starter Noah Davis.