Mariners’ Nelson Cruz breaks bat on HR, goes back-to-back with Seager

With the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning on Sunday, Nelson Cruz got a hold of one. This time, it had a different sound to it, however.

Mariners beat Blue Jays 6-3 to snap 5-game losing streak

That’s because Cruz broke his bat on the go-ahead, 404-foot, two-run homer. Teammate Kyle Seager, who hits one spot behind the Mariners’ cleanup man, confirmed as much to 710 ESPN Seattle’s Shannon Drayer after the 6-3 M’s win over the Blue Jays.

“It didn’t just sound like it, it did,” Seager said about the homer sounding like it resulted in a broken bat. “That bat is mangled up and he still hit it out. That’s pretty incredible what he can do, hitting a broken bat homer to center field when I hit a ball during the game as good as I can hit it with a non-broken bat and couldn’t get it out of there, and he goes and breaks his bat and does it. He’s unbelievable.”

Seager was being modest. He actually followed up Cruz’s homer with a blast of his own, giving the Mariners back-to-back homers and Seager his eighth career two-homer game.

Hugs all around.#TrueToTheBlue pic.twitter.com/vmG6NFN8Mf

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) August 5, 2018

Seager also delivered a solo shot in the sixth inning, and he and Cruz did all of the damage on offense as the Mariners finally broke a five-game losing streak. Cruz had four RBIs on the day – he also a two-run single in third inning to break a scoreless tie – and Seager added the other two with his pair of homers.

The Mariners’ win wrapped up a tough seven-game homestand in which they went just 2-5. They’ll start a 10-game road trip on Monday in Texas, a trip that will include stops in Houston and Oakland, the two teams they are currently chasing in the American League playoff race.

Follow @BrentStecker