For the second time in exactly one week, the Mariners take down one of baseball’s best squads, the New York Yankees in a three-game set. Throughout this series win, Seattle got mixed glimpses of the future. Monday’s opener showed the Logan Gilbert is mortal, where on the contrary, Tuesday’s game showed Luis Castillo is immortal (small sample size with Seattle, but c’mon…he was electric). Wednesday was a team effort on both sides of the ball.
Roster moves and injury updates coming in hot:
- Diego Castillo (shoulder) and Dylan Moore (back spasms) were reinstated prior to Wednesday’s finale
- Julio Rodriguez eyes Friday’s opener in Arlington to return from his wrist injury.
- Reliever Ryan Borucki lands on the 15-day IL
- 2020 AL ROY Kyle Lewis was sent down to Tacoma, he has been struggling mightily at the dish (.143 BA)
- Brennan Bernadino came up, and went back down when Castillo returned Wednesday
- Chris Flexen has been moved to the bullpen, most likely as the team’s long reliever
Monday’s opener was never in the hands of the home team. Like George Kirby, Starter Logan Gilbert has been used more than he ever has in his career, and that began taking a toll on him, facing the Yankees for the second time in two starts. In just four innings (his quickest exit all year), Gilbert gave up seven earned on ten hits, with only two strikeouts.
Cal Raleigh missed a potential game-tying grand slam by a few feet, but that was really the only hope offensively on Monday. One positive from the offense is Mitch Haniger’s return to the everyday lineup. He went 3-4 with a home run and continued to succeed against Yankee-pitching throughout the rest of the series. NYY took game one 9-4.
Tuesday’s middle game was certainly one for the books. The 13-inning battle in front of a packed T-Mobile Park is a win that will very well be looked back on for years to come. The rematch of Luis Castillo and Gerrit Cole was not a let down by any means. Cole was dominant, which is the opposite of what he was in the first inning the last time he faced the Mariners. Cole’s final line: 7 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 8 SO. Now onto the new talk of the town, Luis Castillo. In his first home start, and second with the Mariners, he again showed why a handful of teams wanted to acquire him at the deadline. Castillo went eight strong, allowing just three hits, punching out seven Yankees.
The ‘Pen on both sides were also dominant. NYY’s bullpen went 5 1/3 innings, allowing zero earned runs, allowing just two hits. Seattle’s bullpen was even stronger than New York’s. Andres Munoz hit 102 MPH and struck out the side, Paul Sewald and Matt Festa combined for two innings, no-hit ball, and Rookie Matt Brash went two innings himself, striking out three, while not allowing a hit.
New York certainly made some questionable baserunning mistakes, which helped Seattle stay in it in extras. It was last-man off the bench, Luis Torrens, who brought home Eugenio Suarez in the 13th on an off-field base-hit against Jonathan Loaisiga. The final was 1-0, as Aaron Goldsmith called it an “instant classic”.
Pitching Coach Pete Woodworth supplies a Gatorade-drenched Luis Torrens with the famous "Swelmet" after his walk-off single Tuesday night.Photo: Getty Images
It was a quick turn around for both teams, with Wednesday’s game beginning at 1:10 PM. It was 2021 AL Cy Young Robbie Ray against former-Mariner, and All Star “Nasty” Nestor Cortes. Cortes certainly lived up to his famous nickname. He had held Seattle with no hits (and ten strikeouts) until the sixth, where Sam Haggerty came up big once again, blasting a foul pole ringing line drive home run. Ray was dominant (6 1/3 IP, 3 H, 7 SO), despite walking five batters. On his last pitch before getting pulled, New York’s backup catcher, Kyle Hagashioka snuck a two-run homer over the center field wall. Aaron Judge followed Hagashioka with a solo shot himself making the game 3-1 NYY in the seventh.
When Cortes was taken out of the game in the home seventh, Seattle’s offense found the light. Haniger knocked in Ty France to make it a one-run ballgame. Carlos Santana, who seemingly only hits clutch home runs, struck again, with a two-run bomb over the head of Aaron Judge in right field.
Penn Murfee, Diego Castillo, and Paul Sewald helped shut it down for the series victory. Seattle finishes 2022 with a 4-2 record against the AL East-leading New York Yankees.
After a day off Thursday, the M’s head to Arlington for three against the Texas Rangers. The road ahead isn’t as daunting as it was straight out of the All-Star Break. After Texas, Seattle then goes to Anaheim, Oakland and then back home against Washington (all teams below .500).
Rookie George Kirby will toe the rubber in Friday night’s game, with hopes of having Julio back in the lineup, who based off his rookie season success, loves playing against the Texas Rangers.