Trident true: Mariners get first win in City Connect jerseys as Teoscar Hernandez hits go-ahead solo shot late
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA – Any thought of the Seattle Mariners going winless in their City Connect jerseys has been erased following a tight 3-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox. Celebrating Pride Night in front of a crowd of 36,061, the Mariners got a solid start out of young pitcher Bryan Woo while the offense didn’t click until late. It was tough to put Woo in that situation with little to no run support for most of his outing, but Seattle got the runs when it counted most as a Teoscar Hernandez solo shot to straightaway center in the 7th inning put the Mariners ahead for good. Mariners closer Paul Sewald slammed the door shut on any sort of White Sox comeback attempt, and gave Seattle a series opening victory.
“We made it harder than it needed to be tonight, but awesome pitching performance starting with Bryan Woo. He continues to get a little bit better every time out there, I thought his stuff today was just outstanding. Got into his breaking ball early in the game and he was rolling, I think the combination of his four seam and two seam fastball, his two-seam fastball just explodes. And it’s different than you know, maybe what George does. And they all do it differently, but great outing by him tonight, obviously, was trying to get him through the sixth inning there and not able to do it but shouldn’t look back. He’s continuing to get better and learning a ton out there; our bullpen tonight was outstanding. So, there’s a lot of really good things offensively, except getting that guy in from third. It was a struggle tonight, but a lot of really good at-bats think we have over 100 pitches on their starter tonight, and he didn’t get through the fifth inning, so really grinded it out. Not an easy win, we could have made it a little bit easier. Getting a big hit there earlier in the game, we had runners in scoring position, but we’ll take a good way to start the series.”
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryan Woo had his best performance of his young career (Photos by Liz Wolter)
Woo back baby
Mariners starting pitcher Bryan Woo hasn’t had the ideal path to the big leagues, getting his first start against the high-powered offensive attack of the Texas Rangers and then dealing with the lineup of the Angels that features two of the best players in all of baseball. Woo has very much been “thrown into the fire,” but he’s showed improvement in the two starts following the brutal Rangers outing. Going from allowing seven runs in two innings against Texas, two runs in four innings in Anaheim, and another two runs across five and two thirds' innings tonight against the White Sox. It isn’t necessarily improvement in terms of the runs that were given up, but outside of two solo homers allowed, Woo pitched a quality game.
“It’s huge. It’s the best stuff he’s had again, he keeps growing, he gets better every time out there. He landed the slider early in the game, he used it throughout the game with the combination of his fastballs and it gets that pitch going. He does it so effortlessly, it’s like ‘is this guy really working hard out there?’ It’s just so easy coming out of his hand. And he’s gonna learn a lot, he wasn’t quite able to get that last out in the fifth inning his time before, wasn’t able to get that last out in the sixth inning tonight. He’ll continue to take that and take the positives from tonight’s outing because he was awesome.”
Outside of the two solo homers he allowed that equated to the two runs that Chicago put up tonight, Woo only gave up one hit to the White Sox and didn’t walk anyone. It was Woo’s longest outing in terms of both innings and pitches, and his best-looking display of stuff yet. Using a trio of his fastball, sinker, and slider, Woo generated 18 whiffs which was the most in the game and eight more than the second closet, 12 more than Chicago starting pitcher Michael Kopech. Despite his spin rate and velocity being down compared to his previous two starts, Woo whizzed through the White Sox batters for a career high nine-strikeouts but sadly didn’t collect his first career win. It’s a promising performance, considering that he can continue to get better from here.
“Just continuing to get better, continuing to progress, learn from every start, learn from every batter, every outing. Just continuing to build on each outing and continue to go forward after that. ”
“Just being more aggressive with it, trusting it, committing to throwing it. Not really babying it, not trying to shape it, just throwing it and trusting how it’s going to come out. Woody (Pete Woodworth) has been pretty good about just kind of giving me confidence on how good it is and just continuing to trust it. Not trying to do too much with it, just throwing, it trusting that it’s going to be where it needs to be and letting go of the rest after that.”
Seattle Mariners center fielder doubled in the 5th, later being scored by a Teoscar Hernandez double on a hit and run (Photos by Liz Wolter)
Fashionably late offense
While Woo was able to do his part for much of the game, keeping Chicago off the board and minimizing any damage that they presented, the Seattle offense waddled out of the gate despite a lackluster outing from White Sox starter Michael Kopech. If the Mariners could just get to the Chicago bullpen, they could see some fortunate numbers as the White Sox had to deploy six relievers in their loss to the Dodgers the night prior. Seattle was generating opportunities to get runs on the board, but were failing to capitalize with runners in scoring position. Mariners baseball at its finest was present, and it was extra frustrating to see considering the fact that Woo was doing his best to keep his team in the ballgame.
Seattle Mariners shortstop JP Crawford scores from second on a Ty France single, following his double in the sixth inning (Photos by Liz Wolter)
Through the first four innings, Seattle was 0-7 with runners in scoring position, having left seven runners on base as Woo continued to work. The fifth inning came around, and Chicago was able to take advantage of a sinker in the somewhat middle quadrant of the plate with a Gavin Sheets solo homer. The Mariners answered back with some big hits, as Julio Rodriguez led off the bottom of the inning with a double before Teoscar Hernandez hit a two-bagger of his own to drive in his fellow outfielder. Doubles remained the key theme, as JP Crawford racked one up before a Ty France single drove him in with a single that he tried to extend into a double, before getting awkwardly caught between first and second. With the White Sox hitting solo shots in those two innings, things were all tied up going into the seventh as Matt Brash kept things scoreless in the top of the inning. Right fielder Teoscar Hernandez wasted no time in giving his team the lead, slamming a solo shot to straightaway center field to take the lead.
“Teoscar’s got a lightning quick bat. I mean, he’s got all kinds of power for sure. Certainly, when the ball is in the strike zone, and he’s gone on a really good run, he has. I know everybody got off to the really slow start and everybody gets down. Teoscar Hernandez is a proven hitter in this league, he is starting to go and it’s fun to watch. Because he can hit the ball out of any part of the ballpark, in any ballpark. He’s got that kind of power.”
While the offense wasn’t able to push anything else across home plate after the Hernandez homer, despite Jose Caballero getting all the way to third base with one out in the eighth, the Mariners were in favorable position to take this game due to the strength of their bullpen. Andres Munoz delivered a 1-2-3 eighth inning before it was Paul Sewald’s turn to slam the door shut, as both relievers recorded two strikeouts each to take the series opener against the White Sox. While Seattle had somewhat struggled in these one-run games earlier in the season, getting some of their top bullpen arms back like Munoz from injury is huge if the Mariners are going to get the deciding edge in tight contests.
Seattle Mariners right fielder Teoscar Hernandez hit a go-ahead solo homer in the seventh inning to give his team the lead (Photos by Liz Wolter)
Quick notes
The Mariners opened the series against the White Sox with a 3-2 win to move back to .500 on the season…the Mariners are now 12-11 in series openers, 8-13 in 1-run games and pick up their 15th comeback win of the season.
Seattle moves to 10-4 in their last 14 home games.
Tonight also marked the Mariners 995th regular season win at T-Mobile Park.
Teoscar Hernández picked up 1 double, 1 home run and 2 RBI in tonight’s game… he extends his on-base streak to 12 consecutive games and picked up his 19th multi-hit game of the season.
Hernández has hit safely in 9 of 12 games this month… during June, he is batting .364 (16x44) with 2 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 10 RBI and 5 walks.
His home run in the 7th inning was his farthest hit home run of the season (previously: 426’ on 4/4/23 vs. LAA) and was the hardest hit ball of tonight’s game at 108.7 MPH.
Julio Rodríguez went 2-for-5 on the night with 1 run, 1 single and 1 double… his single in the 1st was the Mariners first hit of the game.
Rodríguez now has 22 multi-hit games this season (last: 6/10/23 @ LAA), which leads Mariners hitters…tonight marked his 3rd multi-hit game of the month.
Ty France went 2-for-4 and picked up 1 RBI on the night… it marks his 21st multi-hit game of the season, trailing only Rodríguez’ 22.
He has hit safely in 10 out of the 12 games in June, with 6 of those being multi-hit games… during June, France is batting .375 (18x48) with 5 doubles, 1 home run, 7 RBI and 1 walk.
J.P. Crawford went 1-for-4 with 1 run, 1 double and 1 walk tonight.
Crawford drew a walk to lead off Mariners hitters in the 1st inning… it was his 5th leadoff walk this season (last: 6/14/23 vs. MIA).
He continues to lead the Mariners in walks this season with 36 and during the month of June, Crawford has drawn a walk in 7 of his 11 games.
His double in the 6th inning was his 2nd hardest hit double this season at 106.6 MPH (highest: 108.3 on 4/7/23 @ CLE).
Eugenio Suárez went 1-for-3 with 1 double and 1 walk tonight… his double in the 2nd inning was his 2nd hardest hit double of the season at 107.6 MPH (highest: 109.6 MPH on 4/25/23 @ PHI).
Jarred Kelenic went 1-for-2 with 1 single and 2 walks… it was his 5th multi-walk game so far this season (last: 6/3/23)
José Caballero picked up 1 walk on the night.
Caballero notched his 10th stolen base of the season in the 4th inning…he is the 19th Mariners rookie to record 10+ stolen bases in a season (last: Julio Rodríguez, 2022).
Entering tonight’s game, Seattle’s 9-hitters led the Major Leagues in walks with 37 and OBP at a .367 clip.
In his 3rd Major League start and debut at T-Mobile Park tonight, Bryan Woo threw 5.2 innings and allowed 3 hits, 2 runs (2 ER), 0 walks, 2 home runs and struck out 9… he picks up the first Major League win of his career.
Woo’s 9 strikeouts on the night mark a new career and season high (previously: 7 on 6/10/23).
Tonight was Woo’s longest start yet this season and he did now allow a walk… in each of his 3 starts, Woo has not allowed more than 1 walk.
The Mariners bullpen tonight (Matt Brash, Andrés Muñoz, Paul Sewald) combined for 3.1 innings.
Brash tossed 1.1 innings, allowed 2 hits and struck out 3… entering tonight Brash led the bullpen in strikeouts this season with 52.
Muñoz and Sewald each pitched 1.0 inning and struck out 2 batters.
Tonight marked the 8th time this season the Mariners have left 10+ runners on base.
After the win over the Chicago White Sox, the Seattle Mariners had a “Pride Night” fireworks show (Photos by Liz Wolter)
Fireworks track list
For your enjoyment and knowledge, and perhaps the most important news of the night, here’s the track list that the Mariners played for their Pride Night fireworks.
Rain on me – Lady Gaga/Ariana Grande
I’m every woman – Whitney Houston
2 be loved (Am I ready) - Lizzo
So emotional –Whitney Houston
Break my soul – Beyonce
Unholy – Kim Petras/Sam Smith (REMIXED)
Born this way – Lady Gaga
What’s next?
Following tonight’s win, the Mariners will continue their three-game series against the Chicago White Sox with consecutive day games on Saturday and Sunday while also celebrating numerous communities, themes, and promotions. Tomorrow’s game, Saturday, June 17th, is a 1:10PM PST first pitch (as both weekend games are), as the Mariners will don their “Steelheads” jerseys to celebrate the Negro League team that existed from 1944-46. Seattle will have third-year starter Logan Gilbert on the bump, dueling against Chicago’s Lucas Giolito as the Mariners aim to take their second consecutive series win.