‘Big-time’ walkoff highlights Cole Young’s recent surge

Less than two months into his major league career, Cole Young has already played the role of walkoff hero twice for the Seattle Mariners.

Young’s walkoff in 11th sends M’s to wild win over Astros

Young’s latest walkoff came in the 11th inning on Saturday night, when he lined a one-out RBI single down the right-field line to give the Mariners a 7-6 win over the AL West rival Houston Astros.

It came exactly seven weeks after the 21-year-old Young capped his May 31 debut with a walkoff RBI fielder’s choice in an 11-inning victory over the Minnesota Twins.

“It’s awesome,” Young said after Saturday’s game-winning hit, which ended with him being stormed by his teammates during a frenzied celebration in shallow right field. “I mean, this is what you play for. … To be a part of that moment, it’s amazing.”

With the winning run on third in the 11th, Young fell behind 1-2 after swinging through a fastball from Astros reliever Héctor Neris.

Young immediately stepped out of the box and took a moment to compose himself, then fouled off another fastball before sending a below-the-zone 84 mph splitter into right field for the winning hit.

“You kind of saw his frustration there in his at-bat,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “He stepped out there after the (swing and miss) and kind of calmed himself down a little bit and collected himself and then was able to deliver big-time.

“And that’s the mark of someone who’s really gaining experience and understanding situations. … Just a great at-bat in a really tough situation.”

Young got off to a slow 1-for-19 start over his first six career games. But since then, he’s batted .295 over his past 31 games. He’s currently riding a seven-game hitting streak, while going 9 for 24 with two home runs and a double over that span.

Young’s game-winner on Saturday night made him the youngest Mariners player with a walkoff base hit since Alex Rodriguez did so at age 20 in 1996.

“I think just trying to simplify everything and not trying to do too much – I think that’s the biggest thing for me,” Young said of his mindset in clutch situations.

“I’m not trying to go up and hit a home run. I’m just trying to put the ball in play, and usually good things happen. So if I can just keep that mindset simple and easy, it helps me.”

Young’s walkoff gave the Mariners their fifth straight win and moved them within three games of the first-place Astros.

“I’m just glad we won tonight,” Young said. “It was amazing.”

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