Mariners Game Recap: Homers Power M’s Past O’s 5-2

The Mariners had another complete game, as they defeated the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 for back-to-back wins.

It didn’t take long for the Mariners to get on the board, only two batters in fact. Seth Smith, who homered in last night’s 5-3 win, did it again- this time against starter, Kevin Gausman– demolishing a ball that surely would’ve gone much farther than the recorded 420 feet if it hadn’t hit the base of the 2nd tier bleachers in right field. It was the second time this year Smith had hit home runs on back-to-back days- the first time was back on April 29th and 30th. Unfortunately

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for Mariners starter,

Wade LeBlanc

, who was on the mound for his second start as an M since his trade from the Toronto Blue Jays, he would give up a homer himself to power-hitter,

Chris Davis

, tying the game at one in the second, thus ending his consecutive innings without allowing a run streak at seven frames.

Outside the lone dingers given up by both starting pitchers, they would fair very well throughout the game, with few, but meaningful blemishes. The next inning, LeBlanc would give up his second double on the year to Joey Rikard, and it would cost him, as two batters later, Jonathon Schoop would bring him home via a base knock to put the O’s up 2-1. In the next portion of the game both pitchers would cruise, facing minor threats, that was until the bottom of the sixth, when the Mariners took back the lead.

The comeback was started and completed by the usual suspects of the home side, beginning with a double by Nelson Cruz on a 3-0 count. The double extended his hitting streak against the birds to ten games and his birthday hitting streak- yes, it was Cruz’s 36th- to seven games. Kyle Seager followed up the extra-base hit with a home run that went 429 feet and froze the entire Oriole team as soon as the ball came off the bat- it was Seagar’s sixteenth homer of the year. This production from the heart of the lineup, while not surprising, but snapped a cold spell that had plagued them for the first five innings. Combined, the combo of Robinson Cano, Cruz and Seager had been silenced, posting a goose egg on seven attempts, accompanied by four punch outs.

The lead would put LeBlanc in line for the win, and that would be all we would see from the man who may become a main staple in the rotation if he keeps up his hot streak. His final line would be nearly identical to his his first start, going six innings, giving up a measly 3 hits and an unfortunate 2 runs and mowing five batters. He would be replaced by another Mariner who was celebrating his birthday, Mike Montgomery– who turned 29. The relief pitcher would allow one single in a harmless seventh before being taken off for the budding flame-thrower, Edwin Diaz. The youngster would strike out the side, while giving up a lone hit that proved to be meaningless. The solid relief continued into the last frame, as closer, Steve Cishek slammed the door on the Orioles in a one, two, three ninth, K-ing two.

Once again for the Mariners everything came together. 100% of their run-production came from home runs, their starting pitching was spectacular, and the bullpen shutdown continued LeBlanc’s success of slowing down the most powerful offense in the American League. Tomorrow James Paxton will take the hill, trying to win the Mariners the series, while also putting his team above .500 at home for the first time all season.