Five Fantastic Performances by the Mariners in 2023!

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In reviewing games from the 2023 season, five stood out to me. The team put in a great effort in every game. In some, a given player and/or the team as a whole stood out.

Game 1: Logan Gilbert Shut Out the Giants in San Francisco (July 4, 2023)

Logan Gilbert pitched for nine innings and allowed no runs! Though he allowed five hits, none materialized into a score. The Mariners won the game, 6-0, at Oracle Park. Mike Ford had four hits on his birthday and two runs. Nice work, Logan Gilber! Reach for a perfect game!

I thought that the batters awarded Logan Gilbert the Trident for this "no-hit" game, but I was wrong. He was given the home run symbol when he pitched a previous terrific game in Atlanta against the Braves on May 20.

Texas Rangers v Seattle Mariners / Steph Chambers/GettyImages

Game 2: J.P. Crawford Cemented a Win Against the Rangers in the Ninth (September 28, 2023)

Do you remember how stressful the end of September was this past season? In their last ten games, the Mariners were either playing the Rangers or the Astros. These were big games, determining who would go to the post-season and who would finish first in the AL West. In the first game of the second series against the Rangers, Leody Taveras hit a home run in the third, and Adolis Garcia hit an HR in the top of the fourth. Julio Rodriguez answered with a homer of his own in the bottom of the fourth. As the innings progressed this score remained the same, Rangers 2, Mariners 1, that is, until the bottom of the ninth inning.

In the ninth, Cal Raleigh hit a line drive, followed by a Dylan Moore single to left field. A wild pitch sent Raleigh to 3rd and Moore to 2nd. Ty walked. The bases were loaded. Mike Ford and Josh Rojas had outs. With one out remaining, J.P. Crawford hit a double, sending Raleigh and Moore home! The Mariners defeat the Rangers 3-2! Thank you, J.P.

New York Yankees v Seattle Mariners / Steph Chambers/GettyImages

Game 3: George Kirby Pitched Eight No-run Innings against the Yankees and Cal Raleigh Made the Winning Hit! (May 31, 2023)

The Yankees’ visit to T-Mobile Park in 2023 was dispiriting because New York won the first two games by scoring 10 runs in each. First, the Mariners lost 10-4. In the next game, they lost 10-2. In the third game, however, things changed.

Enter George Kirby. He pitched for eight innings, throwing 95 pitches. During that time, he allowed no runs and only three hits. Every inning, only three or four Yankees got up to bat. He struck out seven players. Then Paul Sewald allowed no hits in the ninth inning. The whole game the Mariners and Yankees were tied 0-0.

In the tenth inning, Topa allowed one hit, sending New York’s 2nd baseman to 3rd. His first out was on a foul pop fly. He then allowed a walk. The second out was due to a forceout at home. Suarez and Raleigh were responsible for that. The bases were loaded. Topa struck out the last batter. A close call!

The Mariners had escaped the top of the 10th but the score was still 0-0. In the bottom of the tenth, Cal Raleigh hit a single to right field, allowing Caballero (who was the player placed at 2nd) to score. The Mariners won 1-0. Nice pitching, hitting, and running!

Seattle Mariners v Baltimore Orioles / Mitchell Layton/GettyImages

Game 4: Cal Raleigh Hit the Ball out of the Stadium in Baltimore! (June 25, 2023)

We all know that Cal Raleigh can summon up a smash hit during clutch moments. In a game that featured a total of three hits by the Mariners and was a loss to Baltimore, 3-2, Raleigh stepped up with a two-run home run in the second inning.

If you recall, Camden Yards, the former Baltimore & Ohio warehouse is not flush against the stadium; there is a gap called Eutaw Street. Cal hit a two-run homer right out of the ballpark to Eutaw St.! When a home run ball lands on Eutaw Street, the Orioles mark the spot with a small bronze plaque and embed it in the street. At the time, only 120 other home runs had landed there so Cal joined an elite group. Too bad Cal’s namesake, Cal Ripkin, was not on site to witness this. Raleigh is the third Mariner to hit this far. He joins Ken Griffey, Jr. and Sam Haggerty.

In addition, Cal broke a record when the team went to Fenway. Being a switch hitter, Cal hit two home runs, one with each arm. This had not been done in the stadium since the early twentieth century. Not too bad, Cal, for one season!

Seattle Mariners v Kansas City Royals / Jamie Squire/GettyImages

Game 5: Ty France Had a Red Letter Day Against the Royals in Kansas City (August 15, 2023)

Both teams were getting runs in this game. In the ninth, the game was tied, 8-8. That day, Ty France had 4 hits from 6 at bats.

The Mariners had earned seven runs in the fourth inning against what Aaron Goldsmith called a “pesky team.” I assessed that this team was made up of fighters. First, Bobby Witt hit a grand slam for the Royals in the bottom of the fifth. The score was SEA 7, KCR 5. In the top of the seventh, the Mariners increased their score to eight with a double from Hernandez that sent Suarez home.

In the bottom of the ninth, Kansas City caught up. With walks and line drives, the Royals tied Seattle at 8 apiece.

In the top of the 10th inning, Tucker Davidson hit Jose Caballero with a pitch. Then the Royals intentionally walked Julio Rodriguez. With a single to center field, Ty allowed Cade Marlowe (man placed on 2nd in extra innings) and Caballero to score.

Tayler Saucedo got the first three players out in the bottom of the tenth and the Mariners won the game! This game was a great team effort assisted by Ty France.

These games were far from being the only fantastic performances in 2023. Good luck, Seattle, in 2024! Be fantastic!

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