Justin Smoak's Bat And Glove Come Alive, Beats Rangers 6-5

Apr 25, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners first baseman Justin Smoak (17) and catcher Mike Zunino (3) celebrate after Smoak scored a run on a Texas Rangers wild pitch during the eighth inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

It seems like it’s been forever since Kyle Seager walked off with the win against Houston. It’s probably because we were hoping to see if the Mariners had not only snapped their losing streak, but could start a winning streak.

We were anxious. We had a taste of winning for the first time in over a week. And we wanted MORE!

I envisioned Lloyd McClendon having this chat with the team after that win Wednesday.

Roenis Elias was a little wild at times and a bit dominating at times. He struck out six in 5.2 IP, but he also allowed five hits, three earned runs and walked three. He earned the no decision because the Mariners were able to tag Neal Cotts in the 8th for his 3rd blown save of the year.

Yeah, it took a few innings, but the bats came alive again, striking for six runs as the Mariners held on for a 6-5 win against Texas Friday night. They had to hold on because Fernando Rodney decided to make it interesting in the 9th. It seems he forgot that a 3-run lead still qualifies for a save.

Rodney allowed two hits, a hit batter and two bases-loaded walks to cut the lead to 6-5 with only one out. With Adrian Beltre coming to the plate, in his first game back off the DL, it appeared the Mariners were gonna have to bat in the bottom of the 9th.

Beltre ripped a liner down the first base line. Justin Smoak dove like a cat reaching for a bird and snatched it out of thin air. He then stood up and touched first to double up Elvis Andrus for the game-ending double play.

Smoak did it at the plate too. His 2-run double in the 8th inning gave the Mariners a 4-3 lead. It marked the first runs the Mariners had scored in the 8th inning of any game this year.

After a Kyle Seager single brought in another run, Smoak scored on a wild pitch with what would end up being the winning run. So needless to say, your Sodo Mojo Player of the Game would have to be Justin Smoak.

The Mariners look to go on a winning streak for the first time since starting the season 3-0 when Colby Lewis takes on The King, Felix Hernandez. First pitch is set for 6:10 PM.

BOX SCORE

Batting

Texas


	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	SB	LOB	AVG
Michael ChoiceLF	4	0	0	1	1	1	0	0	.216
Elvis AndrusSS	3	1	0	1	2	0	0	0	.261
Adrián Béltre3B	5	0	1	1	0	1	0	3	.273
Prince Fielder1B	4	1	2	0	0	1	0	1	.214
Álex RíosRF	3	0	2	0	1	0	0	1	.330
Donnie MurphyDH	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	3	.231
Mitch MorelandPH-DH	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	.259
J.P. ArencibiaC	2	1	1	0	1	1	0	3	.094
Luis SardiñasPH	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.333
Leonys MartínCF	3	1	1	0	0	2	1	5	.301
Josh Wilson2B	3	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.302
Totals	31	5	8	3	6	7	1	17

Batting

2B – A Beltre (4, R Elias); A Rios (7, R Elias); J Arencibia (2, R Elias)

S – L Martin

RBI – M Choice (6), E Andrus (4), A Beltre (5)

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out – L Martin 3

GIDP – A Rios, D Murphy

Team LOB – 7

Running

SB – L Martin (6, 2nd base off F Rodney/M Zunino)

Fielding

E – A Beltre (4, field)

PB – J Arencibia

DP – 2 (A Beltre-J Wilson-P Fielder, J Arencibia-J Wilson)

Seattle


	AB	R	H	RBI	K	LOB	AVG
Abraham AlmonteCF	4	1	1	0	0	2	.215
Willie BloomquistSS	4	1	2	0	1	1	.263
Robinson Canó2B	4	1	2	2	0	3	.291
Corey HartDH	3	0	0	0	0	1	.258
Michael SaundersPR-DH	0	1	0	0	0	0	.176
Stefen RomeroRF	4	1	2	0	1	0	.259
Justin Smoak1B	3	1	1	2	2	1	.237
Kyle Seager3B	4	0	2	1	1	2	.197
Cole GillespieLF	3	0	0	0	0	1	.000
Dustin AckleyPH-LF	1	0	0	0	1	1	.236
Mike ZuninoC	3	0	0	0	1	2	.242
Totals	33	6	10	5	7	14

Batting

2B – R Cano (4, R Ross Jr

RBI – R Cano 2 (10), J Smoak 2 (14), K Seager (8)

2-out RBI – R Cano 2

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out – A Almonte 1, R Cano 1, C Hart 1, K Seager 1

GIDP – R Cano

Team LOB – 7

Running

CS – C Gillespie (1, 2nd base by R Ross Jr

Fielding

DP – 3 (R Elias-R Cano-J Smoak, K Seager-R Cano-J Smoak, J Smoak)

Pitching

Texas


	IP	H	R	ER	K	WHIP	ERA
Robbie Ross Jr.	6.0	6	2	2	5	1.19	2.45
Jason Frasor(HLD, 4)	1.0	0	0	0	1	0.91	0.00
Neal Cotts(L, 1-2)(BS, 3)	0.0	4	4	4	0	1.75	7.88
Alexi Ogando	1.0	0	0	0	1	1.32	4.76

Seattle


	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	WHIP	ERA
Roenis Elías	5.2	5	3	3	3	6	1.36	3.54
Dominic Leone	1.1	0	0	0	1	1	1.08	1.50
Yoervis Medina(W, 1-1)	1.0	1	0	0	0	0	1.45	3.48
Fernando Rodney(SV, 4)	1.0	2	2	2	2	0	2.05	3.68

WP – A Ogando, R Elias, D Leone

HBP – A Almonte (by R Ross Jr

Pitches-strikes – R Ross Jr

Ground balls-fly balls – R Ross Jr

Batters faced – R Ross Jr

Game Details

Game Time: 2:55.

Umpires: HP–Hunter Wendelstedt. 1B–Mike Estabrook. 2B–Gabe Morales. 3B–Mike DiMuro.

Weather: 55 degrees, Clear.

Wind: 6 mph, Out to Right.

Attendance: 31,145.