After returning home from the Windy City on Thursday, Seattle was able to get back to their winning ways. The Mariners took all three games from the Rockies, who have now lost their last five games. It’s Seattle’s first series sweep of the young season, as they look to keep their momentum with NL Central-leading Milwaukee coming to town starting Monday. Before the Brew Crew makes their way to the PNW, here is a look at all three games against the Colorado Rockies.
Marco Gonzales, who was originally slotted to start Friday night’s opener against the Rockies, was placed on the Paternity List, as him and his wife are expecting their second child. That meant a spot start for the well-traveled veteran, Tommy Milone.
It was Cal Raleigh “The Clinch” bobble head night, and T-Mobile was packed with fans who were excited and hopeful that the M’s would get back on track in their second homestand of the season.
Colorado’s Kris Bryant got things going for the Rockies early in this one off of Milone, a solo home run into the bullpen.
After home runs in the last three games in Chicago, Jarred Kelenic received a much-louder-than-usual ovation before stepping up to the dish in the home second on Friday night. Take a wild guess what JK did off of LHP Austin Gomber…if you guessed a 414-foot two-run homer, then you’d be right! It was Kelenic’s fourth consecutive game with a home run in a M’s uniform, (first Mariner to accomplish this since Tom Murphy did so in the 2019 season).
Jarred Kelenic celebrates with Manny Acta after hitting launching a home run Friday night. It was Kelenic's fourth consecutive game with a home run. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)Photo: Getty Images
JK’s home run was followed by Julio Rodriguez and Ty France doubles in the fourth, where Seattle gained a 5-1 lead over the Rockies.
Tommy Milone did exactly what Scott Servais needed Tommy Milone to do Friday night. Four plus innings, one earned run and three strikeouts. Trevor Gott came in after Milone and struggled, giving up two runs on three hits. But after Gott, four members of “Los Bomberos” came in and shut it down for a series-opening win by a score of 5-3.
Jackie Robinson day was Saturday’s game two of three against the Rockies. It was George Kirby looking for his first win in 2023, up against RHP Ryan Feltner.
Much like Friday, Colorado jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the second inning on an Elehuris Montero RBI single. It was this same score until the home fourth, where Seattle’s bats finally showed up…in a big way I might add.
Eugenio Suarez tied things up with an opposite-field solo homer just out of the reach of Colorado’s Kris Bryant. Then, after fantastic two-out walks by Kolten Wong and Tommy La Stella, JP Crawford blooped a single into left with the bases loaded, scoring Cal Raleigh. Following Crawford is Julio Rodriguez, and that is certainly not a guy opposing pitchers like facing with the bases loaded.
J-Rod lined a rocket into the RF corner. Wong, La Stella, and Crawford all scored as Julio was into third safely and smiling after a stand-up triple which really broke things open. Fast forward to the home sixth, and the M’s we continuing to pour on.
Julio Rodriguez claps his hands after clearing the bases with a line drive triple Saturday night. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)Photo: Getty Images
Again, with the bases loaded, a Julio fielder’s choice, Geno HBP, Cal Raleigh walk, and a Teo Hernandez single made the score 9-1 in favor of the home team. Kirby was spectacular, earning his first win this year, and the offense backed his performance, as Seattle won their third straight by a score of 9-2.
As the M’s looked for their first sweep in 2023, they had their main man on the bump: Luis “La Piedra” Castillo. He was on his game Sunday, as he worked a perfect game until the top of the sixth. Castillo’s day was done after Colorado was finally able to get a base runner on a blooped single by Jurickson Profar: seven innings, nine Ks, and just two hits…dominant, as always.
Luis Castillo looks up into the sky (or T-Mobile Park roof) after striking out nine, and carry a "perfecto" up until the sixth inning Sunday afternoon. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)Photo: Getty Images
Jarred Kelenic laced a single in the home fifth off of veteran reliever Brad Hand to give the Mariners a 1-0 lead… and some may say that Castillo was receiving the “Felix Treatment”, or that Rockies’ starter Noah Davis certainly did his job in his spot start: five innings, five Ks, no runs allowed. It was quite the pitcher’s duel today.
Justin Topa and Paul Sewald came in and closed it out for Seattle and Castillo in the finale, a narrow 1-0 victory.
For the Mariners, it will be Chris Flexen on Monday, Logan Gilbert on Tuesday and Wednesday is TBA. Here are Milwaukee’s starters for three upcoming games starting tomorrow:
- Mon 4/17: RHP Corbin Burnes (1-1, 5.19 ERA, 14 SO in 17.1 innings).
- Tues 4/18: RHP Colin Rea (0-0, 1.59 ERA, 6 SO in 5.2 innings).
- Wed 4/19: LHP Eric Lauer (2-1, 5.28 ERA, 15 SO in 15.1 innings).
AL West Standings as of Sunday afternoon:
- 1.Texas Rangers (8-6)
- 2.Seattle Mariners (8-8)
- 3.Houston Astros (7-8)
- 4.Los Angeles Angels (7-8)
- 5.Oakland Athletics (3-12)