Seager hits 2 HRs, slugs Mariners past Diamondbacks 8-5
Sep 4, 2021, 8:30 AM | Updated: 9:23 pm
PHOENIX (AP) — Kyle Seager hit a pair of three-run homers, J.P. Crawford added four hits and two RBIs and the Seattle Mariners beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-5 on Saturday night.
Seager’s homers were his 32nd and 33rd of the season and the second one landed in the Chase Field swimming pool behind the right-center field fence. His six RBIs were a season high. Crawford’s four hits were also a season high.
It was a rare offensive outburst for the Mariners, who came into the game with the lowest batting average in the majors.
The game was tied at 5-all in the sixth when Seager put the Mariners ahead for good, launching his second homer of the night to its splash landing in the pool. His 33 homers are a career high, topping his previous high of 30 in 2016.
The win allowed Seattle to keep pace in the AL playoff race. The Mariners are still four games behind the Red Sox for the final wild card spot after Boston also won on Saturday.
Seattle has won five of its past six games. The Diamondbacks have dropped seven of eight.
Marco Gonzales (7-5) started for the Mariners and gave up five runs over five innings. Casey Sadler, Erik Swanson, Anthony Misiewicz and Diego Castillo all threw a scoreless inning of relief. Castillo earned his 16th save.
It was an eventful first inning, with the Diamondbacks taking a 4-3 lead.
Seattle’s first five batters reached base with the big blow coming when Seager hit his first three-run homer off lefty Humberto Castellanos.
Arizona responded in a hurry. Carson Kelly hit a two-run homer and rookie Stuart Fairchild added a two-run double to push the Diamondbacks ahead 4-3.
Castellanos was called up from Triple-A to make Saturday’s start. The left-hander gave up five runs over 3 2/3 innings. Caleb Smith (4-9) took the loss after giving up three runs in 2 1/3 innings of relief.
Arizona’s Ketel Marte hit his 10th homer of the season in the fourth to tie the game at 5-all. It was a line drive shot that landed in the Mariners’ bullpen down the right field line.
MAKING MOVES
Mariners: Reinstated Castillo (right shoulder inflammation) and Misiewicz (left forearm strain) from the 10-day injured list. Sent RHP Wyatt Mills and INF Kevin Padlo to Triple-A Tacoma.
Diamondbacks: To make room for Castellanos on the active roster, Arizona optioned RHP Matt Peacock to Triple-A Reno.
UP NEXT
Seattle sends RHP Chris Flexen (11-5, 3.52) to the mound on Sunday for the finale of the three-game series. He’ll face Arizona LHP Tyler Gilbert (1-2, 2.93).
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