The Biggest Reason The Seattle Mariners Are Winning Again

May 12, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners first baseman Justin Smoak (17) hits a two-run home unr against the Tampa Bay Rays during the eighth inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Run Support

The Mariners are finally getting some. This was a big issue for the M’s during that nasty 8-game skid in April. At this time last year (2013) the Mariners had scored only 135 runs, nearly thirty less than their running 2014 total at 164.

The math on this is pretty simple, an average of one more run per game has converted those one-run losses into ties and/or wins. At a very minimum the Mariners are giving themselves a chance to win those close games. (Yes, I know, 12 of those runs came last night, but lets call those make-up runs for scoring only 18 during the losing streak).

Baseball-Reference also has this cool little tool that tells me how many games the Mariners have won or lost by blowout so far this year too. A blowout being 5 or more runs. In this season, the Mariners are winning more of those than losing. Something that hasn’t happened since…hold onto your hats…2005.