Seattle, WA
Refsnyder’s pinch-hit HR lifts Seattle Mariners over Cards
Perhaps all Rob Refsnyder needed was some extra dad strength to break out of his early-season slump.
Refsnyder continued his strong recent play in a major way for the Seattle Mariners on Sunday, blasting a go-ahead, pinch-hit solo homer in the ninth inning to lift the M’s to a 3-2 win and series sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
Box Score
Refsnyder battled back after falling behind 0-2 against Cardinals left-hander Jo Jo Romero and used some help from MLB’s new Automated Ball-Strike System to do so. The veteran kept his plate appearance alive by winning a challenge on a called third strike on the third pitch of the at-bat. He then fouled off a pitch and watched two balls before clubbing a sweeper 412 feet with a 106.6 mph exit velocity into the Mariners’ bullpen for a 3-2 lead.
It was the 12th pinch-hit, go-ahead home run in the ninth inning or later in team history, per the Mariners.
The home run was Refsnyder’s second of the season and second since being reinstated off the paternity list on April 17 following the birth of his third child.
Prior to going on the paternity list on April 14, Refsnyder was 0 for 16 at the plate in his first eight games in a Mariners uniform. In eight games since he returned, he’s 4 for 17 with the two homers.
Eduard Bazardo pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief to earn his first win of the season. Jose A. Ferrer pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his first save as a Mariner.
The Mariners improved 14-15 overall and 3-0 on their six-game road trip.
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