WASHINGTON (AP) — Jesse Winker hit his second solo homer of the day and the Seattle Mariners received their tenth straight sport, edging the Washington Nationals 2-1 on Wednesday night time to comb a doubleheader.
Field scores: Sport 1 – Mariners 6, Nationals 4 | Sport 2 – Mariners 2, Nationals 1
The Mariners have 10 consecutive wins for the primary time since April 8-17, 2002. Their solely longer profitable streak was a 15-game run from Might 23-June 8, 2001 — the final 12 months they made the playoffs. Seattle is second within the AL West, effectively behind Houston however squarely in wild-card rivalry.
“It’s arduous to win 10 video games in a row. It truly is,” supervisor Scott Servais mentioned. “I give a ton of credit score to our guys. They’ve a really singular mission proper now. Present up every single day, compete your tail off. We’ve received lots of expertise in that room and it’s beginning to come collectively.”
The Mariners received the opener 6-4, getting a three-run homer from Eugenio Suárez and 6 stable innings from Chris Flexen, who received his fourth straight begin.
Winker additionally homered within the afternoon sport, his first after serving a six-game suspension for his position in a brawl with the Los Angeles Angels on June 26. He used the undesirable break to work on his swing and noticed fast dividends.
“I really feel like baseball’s a sport of fixed changes and also you at all times have to regulate with it,” Winker mentioned. “I took the time, observed some issues, and proper now I’m simply attempting to implement them.”
Tommy Milone (1-1) pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings of reduction to win the nightcap.
All-Star Juan Soto prolonged his hitting streak to fifteen video games when he hit his second ninth-inning homer of the day, a solo blast into the higher deck in proper off Paul Sewald. Lane Thomas singled with two outs earlier than Sewald struck out Ehire Adrianza for his second save of the day and twelfth this 12 months.
Thomas had two hits and a stroll for the Nationals, who’ve misplaced six straight and 12 of 13 and fell to 30-60, the worst file within the majors.
Washington starter Erick Fedde (5-7) allowed two runs on six hits over 5 1/3 innings.
Fedde took a shutout into the sixth, however Winker homered with one out.
Adam Frazier hit a sacrifice fly later within the inning towards reliever Steve Cishek.
The Nationals loaded the bases on a single and two walks towards Matt Brash with two outs within the seventh, however Diego Castillo got here on to strike out Keibert Ruiz, who was pinch-hitting for Tres Barerra.
“We’re not scoring runs so we gotta attempt to create one thing, we gotta attempt to combine issues up,” supervisor Dave Martinez mentioned. “I assumed Keibert in that state of affairs, he’s pinch-hit earlier than, he’s achieved effectively. Possibly he might put us on the board proper there.”
Frazier and Cal Raleigh also hit solo home runs for Seattle within the opener.
Flexen (6-8) had a 3-0 lead earlier than he threw a pitch and proceeded to surrender one run on six hits, whereas strolling two and placing out one. He has a 2.88 ERA over his previous seven begins.
Soto, who was caught in a rundown between third and residential on Nelson Cruz’s double to finish the seventh, hit a three-run homer with two outs within the ninth off Penn Murfee to make it 6-4. However Sewald retired Cruz to finish it.
“On the finish of the day, it feels extra horrible once I hit the ball,” Soto mentioned. “As a result of the issues that occurred on the bases and all the things, you possibly can see how shut the sport (would) be.”
Washington starter Josiah Grey (7-6) allowed 5 runs on six hits, three of them residence runs, in 5 innings. He walked three and struck out seven.
Grey struggled together with his management early, strolling two of the primary three batters within the first inning earlier than Suárez homered to left.
BRAWL SUSPENSIONS DONE
Mariners’ All-Star heart fielder Julio Rodríguez served a one-game suspension within the opener stemming from his involvement in a brawl with the Los Angeles Angels on June 26. The entire sanctioned Mariners have now served their suspensions.
DERBY BOUND
Rodríguez introduced Wednesday he’ll take part in Monday’s House Run Derby.
“Since I can keep in mind I’ve been watching House Run Derbies,” mentioned Rodríguez, who has 15 homers. “Since I used to be a child I’ve that dream to play in a single and now that I’ve received an opportunity to be in a single, it’s very surreal that it’s occurring. I’m simply very excited to take part in it.”
DUELING STREAKS
Seattle moved forward of Baltimore for the longest present streak within the majors. The Orioles had received 9 straight coming into Wednesday night time’s sport on the Chicago Cubs.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Nationals: RHP Tanner Rainey was positioned on the 60-day injured checklist with a proper UCL sprain, and veteran RHP Tyler Clippard was referred to as up from Triple-A Rochester. Rainey was 1-3 with 12 saves and a 3.30 ERA in 29 video games.
UP NEXT
Mariners: LHP Marco Gonzales (5-9, 3.24 ERA) pitches the opener of a four-game sequence at Texas. He’s 8-7 with a 3.75 ERA in 19 begins towards the Rangers.
Nationals: RHP Aníbal Sánchez makes his first main league look since 2020 when the Nationals open a four-game sequence towards the Braves. Sanchez, who sat out final 12 months, was on the 60-day injured checklist with a cervical nerve impingement.
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