It was their inability to solve one of their former left-handers. Seattle, which scored 18 times while going 4-3 in the first seven games out of the All-Star break, extended its winning streak to three when it exploded for 14 runs and a season-high 19 hits Saturday as red-hot Nelson Cruz belted two home runs and drove in seven. With him today, it was similar. “Hopefully, that was the wake-up call we need”, said Cruz, who is 10-for-22 in his last six games and has 25 home runs this season.
Advertisement
“I didn’t think I was going to be able to throw it anywhere near the plate when it happened”, Miley said.
For the most part, Miley did that.
Pirates 7, Phillies 4 – At Pittsburgh: Gregory Polanco and David Freese hit two-run singles during a five-run fifth inning to rally and Pittsburgh beat Philadelphia after top Pirates prospect Tyler Glasnow was removed with shoulder discomfort. “I’m moving in the right direction”. “I never felt like I was out of control of the game”. On Sunday, they matched their season low.
Happ made 21 appearances for the Mariners last season before being traded to Pittsburgh, but familiarity with the left-hander wasn’t much help to Seattle’s hitters. He has, no doubt, been one of the best free agent signings of the winter.
None of this worked out for the Mariners.
This season he is 12-3 with a 3.43 ERA in 19 starts.
The Mariners mounted their only real threat when Happ began the fourth inning by walking Chris Iannetta and hitting Robinson Cano.
“He’s been our most consistent guy all year, there’s no doubt”, manager Scott Servais said.
“I kind of slipped a little bit”, Miley said. “I was trying to go up and away, and I fell down”.
It was still 1-0 when Josh Thole started the Toronto sixth inning with a double into the right-center gap. Thole hit a leadoff double and advanced to third on Darwin Barney’s fielder’s choice grounder, sliding around Kyle Seager’s tag.
The second run Miley yielded came on a double-play ball in the sixth by Josh Donaldson that allowed Josh Thole to score from third.
The Toronto Blue Jays designated right-handed reliever Drew Storen for assignment on Sunday. We just struck out too many times today.
The Mariners failed to capitalize on a number of early opportunities, drawing leadoff walks in the second, third and fourth innings without bringing in a run.
Zunino was thrown out easily.
“With the knuckleball”, Cruz said, “you just hope you can hit it. You saw the catcher having trouble catching it. It’s not easy”. You read his bubblegum card it’s pretty good.
The victory boosted the Mariners to 49-47, which put them two games above. On Tuesday he allowed six hits and three runs in 6? innings in a loss to the Chicago White Sox.
Juan Nicasio (8-6) allowed one run in two innings in relief of Glasnow.
STAT PACK: Toronto’s Edwin Encarnacion leads all players with 195 homers since 2011. Cecil picked up two strike outs and got Martin to ground out to first to end the seventh. “It’s not a great play with nobody out”.
Advertisement
Tepera is 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA in five games with Toronto this season, his second in the majors.
