SEATTLE MARINERS

Mariners top A’s 6-1 as Bryce Miller continues spectacular start

May 24, 2023, 9:43 PM | Updated: 10:54 pm

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryce Miller throws to an Oakland Athletics batter during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 24, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS SEATTLE, WA - MAY 24: JJ Bleday (R) #33 of the Oakland Athletics makes a sliding catch during the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 24, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) SEATTLE, WA - MAY 24: Bryce Miller #50 of the Seattle Mariners pitches during the first inning against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on May 24, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) SEATTLE, WA - MAY 24: Julio Rodriguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners hits a single during the first inning against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on May 24, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) SEATTLE, WA - MAY 24: J.P. Crawford #3 of the Seattle Mariners attempts to turn a double play after forcing out Tony Kemp #5 of the Oakland Athletics at second base during the third inning at T-Mobile Park on May 24, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) SEATTLE, WA - MAY 24: Sam Haggerty #0 of the Seattle Mariners hits a two-run double during the fourth inning the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on May 24, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) SEATTLE, WA - MAY 24: Sam Haggerty #0 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates while second baseman Tony Kemp #5 of the Oakland Athletics watches after hitting a two-run double during the fourth inning at T-Mobile Park on May 24, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) SEATTLE, WA - MAY 24: Julio Rodriguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates after hitting an RBI-single off relief pitcher Ken Waldichuk #64 of the Oakland Athletics during the fourth inning of a game at T-Mobile Park on May 24, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) SEATTLE, WA - MAY 24: Jose Caballero #76 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with teammates in the dugout after scoring a run on a hit by Sam Haggerty #0 during the fourth inning against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on May 24, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) SEATTLE, WA - MAY 24: Eugenio Suarez #28 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after striking out during the third inning against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on May 24, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) SEATTLE, WA - MAY 24: Bryce Miller #50 of the Seattle Mariners pitches during the sixth inning against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on May 24, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) SEATTLE, WA - MAY 24: J.P. Crawford #3 (L) of the Seattle Mariners tags out Jace Peterson #6 (R) of the Oakland Athletics in a run fielder's choice run-down between third base and home plate during the seventh inning at T-Mobile Park on May 24, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) SEATTLE, WA - MAY 24: Teoscar Hernandez #35 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on May 24, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) SEATTLE, WA - MAY 24: Reliever Tayler Saucedo #60 of the Seattle Mariners pitches during the ninth inning against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on May 24, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won 6-1. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) SEATTLE, WA - MAY 24: Second baseman Kolten Wong #16 of the Seattle Mariners turns a double play after forcing out Carlos Perez #44 of the Oakland Athletics and throwing out Aledmys Diaz #12 at first base during the ninth inning at T-Mobile Park on May 24, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won 6-1. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) SEATTLE, WA - MAY 24: Cal Raleigh #29 (L) of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with Tayler Saucedo #60 after a 6-1 win against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on May 24, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) SEATTLE, WA - MAY 24:  (L-R) Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners, Tayler Saucedo #60, J.P. Crawford #3, and Sam Haggerty #0 celebrate after a 6-1 victory against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on May 24, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)

SEATTLE (AP) — Watching him during spring training, Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais saw the potential in young righty Bryce Miller even if he was starting off in the minors.

Thrust into duty with the Mariners due to injury, Miller is blowing away even the most lofty expectations that came with his arrival.

Seattle Mariners 6, Oakland A’s 1: Box score

Miller limited Oakland to two hits over six shutout innings to continue his spectacular early success, and the Mariners used a big inning to beat the Athletics 6-1 on Wednesday night.

“There’s going to be some adjustments he’s going to need to make along the way, the more teams get to see him and the book gets on him a little bit more,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “But, you know, if it ain’t broke, you don’t fix it. And the results are outstanding.”

Seattle scored five times and sent 11 batters to the plate in the fourth inning, providing more than enough offense for Miller and a trio of relievers.

Miller (3-1) has pitched at least six innings in each of his five starts. He’s allowed just two hits in three of the five outings and has allowed four earned runs in 31 1/3 innings. He’s the first pitcher since at least 1901 to throw at least six innings and allow four or fewer hits in each of his first five appearances.

Miller made his debut May 2 against the Athletics with 10 strikeouts, two hits and one run allowed. And three weeks later, Oakland still couldn’t solve the young right-hander.

Of his 90 pitches Wednesday, 73 were fastballs.

“The plan is the same, go out and attack with the fastball and get ahead, and until it’s proven that I need to stray away from it then I’m going to keep riding with it,” Miller said.

The A’s (10-41) lost their seventh straight game and 15th in 17 games. They are the third team since 1901 to have a winning percentage below .200 after 51 games, joining Boston (.196) in 1932 and Washington (.188) in 1904.

Miller added to the misery, allowing only four baserunners to go with six strikeouts. Aledmys Díaz’s single in the third inning was Oakland’s first hit and Ryan Noda’s check swing blooper in the sixth parachuted into the outfield for a single. Miller also walked one and hit a batter.

But for the most part the Athletics couldn’t touch Miller. He capped his night striking out Shea Langeliers on a 95 mph fastball to end the sixth inning.

“When you lose a guy like Robbie Ray, and then you have a young guy come in like that and take the opportunity and run with it’s fantastic. Great to see,” Servais said.

Díaz’s double in the seventh off reliever Matt Brash scored JJ Bleday with Oakland’s only run.

Seattle’s offense came alive in the fourth inning, batting around against Ken Waldichuk. The Mariners had five hits and three walks in the inning off Waldichuk (1-4), including Sam Haggerty’s two-run double and RBI singles from J.P. Crawford and Julio Rodríguez.

“He just started pitching behind in the count in that inning,” Oakland manager Mark Kotsay said. “He wasn’t getting ahead of hitters and that’s going to hurt you when your behind in the count against these guys.”

Teoscar Hernández hit his ninth homer of the season leading off the seventh inning.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Seattle Mariners: 1B Ty France was out of the lineup after getting hit by a pitch on the outside of his left hand late in Tuesday’s win. France’s hand was slightly swollen but the Mariners felt fortunate to avoid a significant injury. France said the pitch hit the outside of his palm and avoided both his wrist and pinkie finger.

UP NEXT

Oakland Athletics: LHP JP Sears (0-3, 4.99) has a 3.57 ERA in four starts in the month of May. Sears threw six innings and allowed two runs in his last start against Houston.

Seattle Mariners: RHP Logan Gilbert (2-2, 3.81) looks for his second straight win after throwing six innings and allowing two runs in a win over Atlanta in his last outing.

Seattle Mariners hitting coach explains ‘unique skill set’ of José Caballero

Mariners Roof Report

Brought to you by
Sunny
High 56° | Low 41°
Roof is open
Red Sox at Mariners today at 6:40pm

Seattle Mariners

Seattle Mariners defense Luis Urías...

Brent Stecker

Is the Mariners’ defense going to be a big concern this year?

The Seattle Mariners didn't play their cleanest game in the field on opening day. Mike Salk and Shannon Drayer on if it's a sign of things to come.

3 hours ago

Seattle Mariners Mitch Haniger Dylan Moore...

Brandon Gustafson

Mariners Highs and Lows: What stands out from opening day loss

The Seattle Mariners fell to the Red Sox on opening day, and there were some takeaways – good and bad – to be had from the loss.

15 hours ago

Seattle Mariners Boston Red Sox Tyler O'Neill...

The Associated Press

Mariners drop opener 6-4 as Boston’s O’Neill makes history

Tyler O’Neill homered in his fifth straight opening day game to set a major league record, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 6-4.

16 hours ago

Seattle Mariners Mitch Haniger...

Brandon Gustafson

Welcome Back: Mitch Haniger blasts homer in Mariners return

Mitch Haniger kicked off his return to the Seattle Mariners with a bang, blasting a 2-run home run to right field in his second at-bat.

17 hours ago

Nelson Cruz Seattle Mariners...

Brent Stecker

After throwing out 1st pitch, Nelson Cruz retires as a Mariner

Nelson Cruz threw out the first pitch at Seattle Mariners opening day, then signed a one-day contract to retire with the team.

18 hours ago

Seattle Mariners Julio Rodriguez...

Brandon Gustafson

Mariners Notebook: ‘Consistent pressure’ theme for lineup in 2024

Scott Servais expects big things from the Seattle Mariners' lineup in 2024, as he shared ahead of their opener against the Boston Red Sox.

22 hours ago

Mariners top A’s 6-1 as Bryce Miller continues spectacular start