Logan Morrison Slugs Mariners Into Final Weekend With Hope

The Seattle Mariners faced another must-win game on Thursday. But unlike the previous five games, this time they were up to the task.

Logan Morrison has gotten hot at the right time. His 3-run homer in the 4th gave the Mariners a lead. His homer in the 6th, followed by a homer by Mike Zunino, put the Mariners up for good as they beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-5, snapping their five-game skid.

It was a bullpen game for the Mariners, with Tom Wilhelmsen getting the start. But he allowed two runs in the second, and Lloyd McClendon had a quick trigger this time.

Joe Beimel allowed two on with no one out in the 5th, Yoervis Medina allowed them both to score to tie the game at 4-4.

But LoMo’s solo shot to lead off the 6th gave the M’s the 5-4 lead.

Fernando Rodney gave up a solo homer to Kevin Pillar to start the 9th, but then retired the side in order for his 47th save.

Logan Morrison is batting .317 with 3 HR and 6 RBI for the month of September. This follows August, in which he batted over .300 as well. It couldn’t have come at a better time as the M’s are grasping for any signs of hope to extend their season.

The win, coupled with the Oakland A’s loss, keeps the slim hopes of a playoff berth alive heading into the final weekend.

The Mariners are two back of Oakland with three games to play. Here are the scenarios:

Royals win (Seattle wins or loses): Royals clinch postseason berth.

Royals lose (Seattle wins): Seattle would be two games back of KC with two to play.

Athletics lose (Seattle wins): Seattle is one game back of Oakland with two to play.

Athletics win (Seattle wins) or A’s lose (Seattle loses): Mariners are two back of Oakland with two to play.

BOX SCORE

Batting

Seattle

Batting

2B – R Cano (37, K Graveman); K Morales (20, B Morrow); B Miller 2 (14, T Redmond, D McGowan)

HR – L Morrison 2 (11, 4th inning off T Redmond 2 on, 1 Out, 6th inning off A Loup 0 on, 0 Out), M Zunino (22, 6th inning off D McGowan 0 on, 1 Out)

RBI – K Seager 2 (96), L Morrison 4 (37), M Zunino (58)

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out – C Taylor 1, J Jones 1, K Seager 2

Team LOB – 6

Fielding

E – C Taylor (7, field); K Morales (1, throw); B Miller (19, field)

DP – 1 (K Seager-B Miller-L Morrison)

Toronto

Batting

HR – K Pillar (2, 9th inning off F Rodney 0 on, 0 Out)

SF – E Encarnacion

RBI – E Encarnacion (98), A Lind (40), K Pillar (7), A Gose (13), R Goins (15)

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out – M Kawasaki 1, G Kottaras 1, R Goins 1

GIDP – E Encarnacion

Team LOB – 5

Running

SB – D Pompey (1, 3rd base off J Beimel/M Zunino), K Pillar (1, 2nd base off J Beimel/M Zunino)

Fielding

Outfield assists – K Pillar

Pitching

Seattle

Toronto

IBB – R Cano (by T Redmond)

HBP – K Morales (by A Loup)

Pitches-strikes – T Wilhelmsen 37-23; L Luetge 13-7; D Leone 11-7; J Beimel 23-12; Y Medina 15-8; D Farquhar 19-12; C Furbush 10-6; C Smith 3-3; F Rodney 12-9; D Norris 59-29; T Redmond 28-19; A Loup 11-7; D McGowan 14-7; B Morrow 9-6; K Graveman 29-23

Ground balls-fly balls – T Wilhelmsen 2-1; L Luetge 2-0; D Leone 3-0; J Beimel 1-1; Y Medina 2-1; D Farquhar 4-0; C Furbush 0-1; C Smith 0-0; F Rodney 1-1; D Norris 4-5; T Redmond 1-1; A Loup 2-0; D McGowan 1-0; B Morrow 2-1; K Graveman 3-0

Batters faced – T Wilhelmsen 8; L Luetge 3; D Leone 3; J Beimel 6; Y Medina 4; D Farquhar 6; C Furbush 2; C Smith 1; F Rodney 4; D Norris 13; T Redmond 8; A Loup 4; D McGowan 4; B Morrow 4; K Graveman 7

Game Details

Game Time: 3:02.

Umpires: HP–Doug Eddings. 1B–Cory Blaser. 2B–Jim Joyce. 3B–Marvin Hudson.

Weather: 66 degrees, Clear.

Wind: 8 mph, In From Right.

Attendance: 17,173.