SEATTLE MARINERS

Jarred Kelenic’s 482-foot homer helps Mariners beat Cubs 5-2

Apr 12, 2023, 2:16 PM | Updated: 4:34 pm

Seattle Mariners Jarred Kelenic Teoscar Hernández...

Jarred Kelenic and Teoscar Hernández after their back-to-back homers on April 12, 2023. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)

(Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)

CHICAGO (AP) — Logan Gilbert pitched 6 2/3 innings of four-hit ball, Teoscar Hernández and Jarred Kelenic hit consecutive home runs in the eighth and the Seattle Mariners stopped a three-game losing streak by beating the Chicago Cubs 5-2 on Wednesday.

Seattle Mariners 5, Chicago Cubs 2: Box score

Kelenic’s homer landed in the upper center-field bleachers and traveled 482 feet, the second-longest at Wrigley Field since Statcast began tracking in 2015 and trailing only Willson Contreras’ 491-footer in Game 4 of the 2017 NL Championship Series.

“Certainly, the wind was blowing out today, but that ball was absolutely smoked,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “All three home runs that Jarred hit in this series were just killed. I played with Mr. (Sammy) Sosa for a few years. I never saw him go up to that level in center field.”

Chicago (6-5) had beaten Seattle (5-8) seven consecutive times dating to July 31, 2016, the Cubs’ longest winning streak against an American League team since interleague play started in 1997.

Gilbert (1-1) recovered from a rocky start by retiring 12 consecutive batters and allowing only two hits after Nico Hoerner and Nick Madrigal hit consecutive singles in the first.

With the potential tying run on base in the seventh, Matt Brash induced Miles Mastrobuoni’s inning-ending groundout.

“He made pitches when he had to,” Cubs manager David Ross said of Gilbert.

Cubs starter Marcus Stroman’s scoreless streak to start the season ended in the third at 14 innings when Eugenio Suárez hit an RBI single. Stroman (2-1) has a 1.80 ERA in 10 starts dating to Aug. 30.

Stroman (2-1) allowed two runs and five hits in six innings, and Brad Boxberger gave up an RBI single to Ty France in the seventh.

Hernández greeted Julian Merryweather with a homer that landed near the top of the left field bleachers.

Kelenic, who hit a single in the second inning to extend his hitting streak to a career-best seven games, hit .458 (11 for 24) on a six-game trip.

Cody Bellinger homered in the ninth for the Cubs.

SWANSON SITS

Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson ended his streak of regular season games played at 192. Swanson left in the middle of Tuesday’s game due to lower left side soreness. “Just win the war, not the battle,” said Swanson, who also has been attending to his wife Mallory, who underwent left knee surgery early Tuesday morning after an injury while playing for the U.S. women’s soccer team in a World Cup prep match against Ireland. The previous time Swanson missed a game was on Sept. 10, 2021, while playing for Atlanta. Swanson expects to return to the lineup Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mariners: RHP Andrés Muñoz (right deltoid strain) hopes to resume throwing Friday. … After needing 5 2/3 innings from its bullpen Tuesday, Seattle selected the contract of RHP Darren McCaughan from Triple-A Tacoma. RHP José Rodriguez was optioned to Tacoma and LHP Brennan Bernardino was designated for assignment.

Cubs: RF Seiya Suzuki (left oblique strain) homered for Triple-A Iowa against Omaha and could rejoin the Cubs this weekend. Suzuki is 4 for 13 (.308) in four rehab games.

UP NEXT

Mariners: LHP Marco Gonzales (1-0, 4.22) will face Colorado LHP Austin Gomber (0-2, 6.75) on Friday at T-Mobile Park.

Cubs: LHP Justin Steele (1-0, 0.75) will oppose Los Angeles RHP Noah Syndergaard (0-1, 6.30) on Friday at Dodger Stadium.

Seattle Mariners Check-In: Who’s hot, who’s not through four series

Mariners Roof Report

Brought to you by

High ° | Low °
Mariners are on the road.
Mariners at Rangers today at 11:35am

Seattle Mariners

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.

7 hours 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.

12 hours 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.

15 hours 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.

16 hours ago

Seattle Mariners beat Texas Rangers 4-0...

The Associated Press

Gilbert stellar, Julio hits 1st HR as Mariners top Rangers 4-0

Logan Gilbert's 6 2/3 shutout innings helped the Seattle Mariners set a new franchise-best pitching mark as they blanked Texas 4-0.

1 day ago

Seattle Mariners Julio Rodrituez...

Zac Hereth

Watch: Seattle Mariners’ Julio Rodríguez blasts 1st HR of season

Seattle Mariners star center fielder Julio Rodríguez ends power outage with a 445-foot home run off Texas Rangers starter Dane Dunning.

1 day ago

Jarred Kelenic’s 482-foot homer helps Mariners beat Cubs 5-2