We’re about to find out if unbelievable Mariners are to be believed

What just happened? What is happening? What are these Mariners?

O’Neil: What if these red-hot Seattle Mariners really are good?

They don’t have much of a bullpen. Their defense can cause fans to throw their hands in the air.

But man, can they hit.

The Kansas City Royals know this all too well after the M’s took four in a row at Kauffman Stadium and kept their reign alive as baseball’s most surprising, most red-hot team.

The Mariners were down 6-3 heading into the eighth inning on Thursday, and they were still behind by two runs when the ninth rolled around. But you don’t tug on Superman’s cape, and you sure don’t let this lineup hang around like the Royals did. Because if you do, you’re liable to face All-Star Mitch Haniger with two outs and runners on the corners, and he’s liable to work the count and stay alive until he gets a pitch he can hit just out of reach of center fielder Billy Hamilton, tying the game and forcing extra innings.

Then you’re going to have to face Daniel Vogelbach in the 10th inning, and he’s “Baby Ruth” right now, hitting dingers like a fresh-faced version of the Bambino.

So that’s how we got here – a 7-6, come-from-behind victory in extra innings to lock up a four-game sweep, finish up a 6-1 road trip, push Seattle’s winning streak to six games AND make the Mariners’ MLB-best record 13-2 (which, if you’re keeping score at home, is still the best start in franchise history).

Oh, and there’s one more crazy thing to come out of Thursday’s win.

With a home run by Dee Gordon (DEE GORDON) in the sixth inning, Seattle became the first team ever to open a season with 15 straight games with at least one home run.

The first team ever.

Put it in the record books—the Mariners have hit a home run in 1️⃣5️⃣ straight games to start the season. 💥 pic.twitter.com/tIAHp1lZNC

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) April 11, 2019

We’re not really sure what’s going on with the Mariners, or how long this run is going to last, or why the season stamped with ‘STEP BACK’ is the one where they came out of the chute like the 1927 Yankees.

We’re going to get some answers, though, and real quick. Because if these Mariners are for real, they’re going to prove it over the next six games. The Houston Astros, the American League West champions two years running and World Series winners just two seasons ago, come to town starting Friday for a three-game set at T-Mobile Park. And right after that, it’s the Cleveland Indians, winners of the AL Central for three years straight, showing up for another three-game series.

Here we go.

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