Fresh off of two walk-offs in a row, the Mariners treated fans to a comfortable nine innings of baseball in their 5-3 win tonight. An impressive, 100-pitch performance from starter Bryan Woo set a new career-high of 13 strikeouts, making Woo the fourth of the Mariners’ five starters to set a career-high in strikeouts this season.
“From the first inning to the last hour, I think it was a playoff atmosphere,” said Woo postgame. “I just felt a different energy. [The fans are] always incredible, no matter
what time of year it is or who we’re playing or whatever it is, but tonight just felt extra special.”
With the seating bowl full of a deafening crowd, the fans continued to rally around the team and help propel them to eight wins in a row.
The Mariners’ first run support for Woo came early in the bottom of the first inning, with Cal Raleigh reaching base on a hit-by-pitch and a double up-the-line from Julio Rodriguez. A scorching, first-pitch double from Jorge Polanco brought in both Julio and Cal for a 2-0 Mariners lead. Polanco has now doubled in six consecutive games, the longest streak in MLB this season.
In the second inning, Angels right fielder Jo Adell continued to haunt Woo’s dreams as he nabbed his third career home run off Woo in just seven at-bats with a no-doubter to center field. A ten-pitch walk to second baseman Christian Moore and two-out single followed, with a line drive from Angels center fielder Bryce Teodosio finding shallow right field to tie the game at 2-2.
Woo settled in after the Angels’ early runs and would not allow any more, but the Mariners added one in the bottom of the fourth with an emphatic J.P. Crawford home run on a 3-2 pitch right down the middle.
In the bottom of the fifth, a single from Cal and walks to Julio and Polanco loaded the bases as the crowd rose to its feet. In perhaps the at-bat of the year by Josh Naylor, an 11-pitch battle with eight fouls in a row led to a line drive that snuck through the infield and scored both Cal and Julio, putting the Mariners up 5-2.
“That’s what he does. He grinds you down, he wears you down. He’s a smart player and that’s just such a great at bat,” said manager Dan Wilson postgame of Naylor’s composure.
Woo continued to make quick work of the Angels’ lineup, tacking on strikeouts and creating more efficient counts. He especially found success in his sweeper, tallying 10 whiffs on 12 swings from the Angels. He exited the game after the sixth inning with three-straight strikeouts to bring his total to 13, and acknowledged the roaring fans after his outing as he returned to the dugout.
Solid, quick innings from relievers Luke Jackson and Caleb Ferguson set up Matt Brash for the save opportunity, although an immediate home run from shortstop Taylor Ward sucked a little bit of life out of the stadium. The energy returned immediately, however, with a Crawford-to-Naylor double play and strikeout to end the game.
“We’ve been doing the little things, and the momentum has been on our side,” said manager Dan Wilson postgame. “And, you know, I think tomorrow, you look for the same game plan. You go out there and get the momentum early and keep it in your dugout and keep rolling from there.”
With wins from the Astros and Rangers tonight, the playoff race remains incredibly tight. Yet this team’s ability to fight for each other, grind out wins, and ride the momentum of players stepping up in big moments will be what sets them apart as the final weeks of the season arrive.
