Mariners Continue Improbable Start with 7-6 Extra Innings Win vs. KC

The Seattle Mariners were down 4-0 and 6-3 during the final game of the four-game series with Kansas City. However, the “Never Say Die” mentality for Seattle continued on Thursday.

An uncharacteristically slow start for this Mariners squad just meant the late inning heroics were that much better (and less believable).

Down to their final out, Mitch Haniger stepped to the batter’s box with the tying runs on. The ridiculous happened again.

With Haniger’s two-run triple, the Mariners tied the game at 6-6. In the bottom of the ninth, the Royals couldn’t do anything, so we went to extra innings.

In the bonus frame, Seattle got their second home run. Daniel “Vogel-bomb” Vogelbach sent a ball out to right field to give the M’s the lead 7-6.

In the bottom of the 10th, the M’s just needed to sit the Royals down. Ask, and ye shall receive. Connor Sadzeck threw 13 pitches, nine for strikes and had one strikeout, which just happened to be the final out.

With the 7-6 win, the Mariners move to 13-2, which ties Seattle with Boston as the only teams since 1988 to start a season 13-2.

Winning Pitcher, Brandon Brennan: 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 K, 0 BB | Losing Pitcher, Glenn Sparkman: 1.0 IP, 1 ER, 0 K, 0 BB | Save, Connor Sadzeck: 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 K, 0 BB

Mitch Haniger’s two RBI triple gave the M’s a chance. He finished 2-for-4 with 3 RBI and a run scored.

Dee Gordon finished a double shy of the cycle; 3-for-4, (Single, Triple, HR) 2 RBI, 2 runs scored.

Notes:

• With Dee Gordon’s 6th inning homer, the M’s became the first team in MLB History to hit a HR in their first 15 games to start a season.
• As mentioned, the M’s tied Boston as the only teams since 1988 to start a season 13-2.
• Mariners starter Mike Leake was only able to go 5 IP. He only gave up 5 hits, but three were home runs. Leake’s final line: 5 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 3 HR, 4 K, 2 BB

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