2022 Key Mariners Moments: The 14-game win streak

The most historical ‘moment’ from the 2022 season for the Seattle Mariners fed directly into the All-Star break. That historically was the second-longest win streak for the Mariners, over the 14-game stretch between July 2nd and the 17th. The 14-game stretch was a part of a 22-3 stretch overall that was the best of the season. 

Not only is it significant as it was the second-longest streak in the franchise’s history, but it also proved that the Mariners were legit and primed for their first postseason berth in over two decades. 

Before the 14-game stretch started, they were sitting at 37-42, 13.5 games back in the division and out of a playoff spot. After the winning and into the break, they were sitting at 51-42, cut the division lead down to 9.0 games, and were in sole possession of the second wild-card spot in the American League. 

After the final game, before he headed down to L.A., the young legend Julio Rodríquez tweeted out in celebration of the streak, implying that the team was not satisfied with just 14 wins. 

The winning was pure dominance by the team in all facets, but most importantly, they were dominating the fun factor of the MLB. Throughout the entirety of the 2022 season, the team would dance after every single win and be having fun. 

The first documentation of the dance was on July 4th, 2022, right at the beginning of the winning. Now, I am not saying that the win streak and first playoff berth of my lifetime were due to the team hitting some jiggy moves, but I think the season would not have been the same without it. 

Whether or not the dancing helped the team with their winning, the winning happened. During the 14 games, they outscored opponents 70-34 and only gave up more than three runs on three separate occasions. Nine separate pitchers were awarded wins and three separate pitches notched saves. 

However, the most surprising fact is that the team did not have a single shutout in their wins, even though they had 10 shutouts the rest of the season. Even more impressively, seven of the 14 games were decided by a single run. 

A pessimistic view would say those seven games could have swung the other way. However, the better way to look at it is that it further proves that the Mariners are the best team in MLB in winning one-run games. In 2021, the team went 33-19 in games decided by one run, the best record in MLB. 

The win streak overall was essential in putting the team firmly in the playoff picture, a position they would not leave en route to their first playoff appearance since 2001.