SEATTLE MARINERS

Yusei Kikuchi’s gem, big 1st inning lead Mariners past Rays 5-1

Jun 18, 2021, 10:22 PM | Updated: Jun 19, 2021, 10:22 am

SEATTLE (AP) — Yusei Kikuchi threw four-hit ball over seven innings, Seattle batted around during a four-run first inning and the Mariners beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-1 on Friday night.

M’s 5, Rays 1: Box score | Aggressive Kikuchi reveals No. 1 mentality

Kikuchi (4-3) earned his 10th quality start in 12 appearances while sending the Rays to their fourth straight loss, matching their season high.

Asked if he thinks Kikuchi has earned All-Star consideration, Mariners manager Scott Servais said: “I think it’s a great question and I think it’s something we should talk about. I think he’s one of the top five left-handers in the game.”

The Japanese pitcher struck out six and recorded 13 infield outs as he helped the Mariners to their fifth win in six games. He’s given up seven hits and one run with 12 strikeouts over 14 innings in his last two starts.

“From the side, it looked like he got better as the game went by,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “His fastball velocity spiked in the sixth and seventh innings.”

Kikuchi struggled in the first inning, allowing two hits, including Yandy Diaz’s RBI single that made it 1-0. But he retired 11 of 12 batters starting in the second inning and got out of the third inning on eight pitches and the fourth in 10, thanks to strong play from Gold Glove shortstop J.P. Crawford.

“I get fired up every time he makes an amazing play,” Kikuchi said through a translator, adding: “J.P. and my teammates made a lot of great plays and that allowed me to get into a rhythm. It made it really easy to pitch out there.”

Kendall Graveman and Drew Steckenrider each pitched an inning of relief with a strikeout apiece.

The Mariners batted around in the first against Michael Wacha (1-2), scoring four runs on six hits with RBIs from Kyle Seager, Jake Bauers, Shed Long Jr. and Luis Torrens, who added another RBI single in the third to make it 5-1.

“Man, that first inning was cool,” said Crawford, who led off with a double.

Wacha gave up 11 hits in 3 2/3 innings, his longest stint since returning from the injured list May 23.

Seattle repeatedly beat the shift against Tampa Bay, sending nine hits to the opposite field.

“We probably got beat around by the shift about as much as I can recall in a long time,” Cash said.

EXTRA-BASE STREAK

With a double in the third inning, Ty France extended his streak to five straight games with an extra-base hit, a team season-high. The DH/INF had three hits in the first four innings, scoring two runs.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rays: RHP Tyler Glasnow (right elbow strain) had an encouraging meeting with a specialist in Dallas on Friday and won’t need surgery. Glasnow, who was moved to the 60-day injured list Thursday, will be shut down for four to six weeks. The hope is he might be able to return four weeks after that, perhaps for a postseason run, but manager Kevin Cash said he was not ready to predict a late return for Glasnow.

Mariners: Seattle sent RHP Justin Dunn (right shoulder soreness) to the 10-day injured list for the second time this month and moved CF Kyle Lewis (knee) to the 60-day injured list. Dunn had an MRI on Friday after pulling himself two innings into his start on Thursday, but results weren’t available. Lewis recently had surgery to repair the meniscus in his right knee, and manager Scott Servais said recovery time made the move necessary.

UP NEXT

Rays: LHP Josh Fleming (6-4, 3.20) recorded his team-record 11th win in his first 18 career appearances in his last game, a 4 2/3-innings relief appearance behind an opener.

Mariners: Rookie RHP Logan Gilbert (2-2, 4.13) goes for his third straight win.

It’s rare rookies find confidence as quick as Mariners’ Logan Gilbert

Mariners Roof Report

Brought to you by
Chance Rain Showers then Light Rain Likely
High 60° | Low 47°
Roof is open
Dbacks at Mariners today at 6:40pm

Seattle Mariners

Seattle Mariners Luis Urías Rangers...

Stephen Hawkins

Mariners hang on to beat Rangers 4-3, win third straight series

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Ty France and the Seattle Mariners never left Texas with a win last season. In their first trip to the Rangers’ ballpark this year, they took the series and first place in the AL West from the reigning World Series champions. Seattle Mariners 4, Texas Rangers 3: Box score France and […]

10 hours ago

Seattle Mariners J.P. Crawford...

Brent Stecker

Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford lands on 10-day IL

J.P. Crawford has been placed on the 10-day injured list with an oblique strain ahead of the Seattle Mariners' series finale in Texas on Thursday.

14 hours ago

Seattle Mariners fall 5-1 to Texas Rangers...

The Associated Press

Garcia, Carter power Texas Rangers past Seattle Mariners 5-1

The Seattle Mariners leave nine runners on base and relinquish first place in the AL West in a 5-1 loss to the Texas Rangers.

1 day ago

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh...

Zac Hereth

Mariners’ Raleigh, Crawford out of lineup — here’s why

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is out of Wednesday's lineup after having oral surgery to fix a broken tooth.

1 day ago

Seattle Mariners Julio Rodríguez...

Stephen Hawkins

Julio Rodríguez reunites with an old friend: Mariners’ HR trident

Julio Rodríguez tightly hugged the trident that the Seattle Mariners use to celebrate home runs. It was a happy reunion, the first time the young slugger got to hold it after going deep this season.

1 day ago

Seattle Mariners Josh Rojas...

Brent Stecker

Key figure for first-place Mariners has been 3B Josh Rojas

The Seattle Mariners' leader in batting average and on-base percentage is surprisingly Josh Rojas, who is also playing strong defense at third base.

2 days ago

Yusei Kikuchi’s gem, big 1st inning lead Mariners past Rays 5-1