Mariners bats break out to back Miller's big rebound

SEATTLE -- It was the type of homecoming that the Mariners sorely needed. But beyond the actual 8-1 win over the Marlins on Monday night at T-Mobile Park, it was even more promising how the victory manifested.

Bryce Miller rebounded in a big way from two stinging losses, allowing just one hit on a solo homer, and Seattle’s offense strung together 10 hits and slugged its way to one of its more dominant wins, one against a team above .500 that has the Mariners one win shy of getting even themselves.

“Getting the runs early certainly helps. I'd love to see it here on a consistent basis,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “We're capable of doing it. We've seen us do it before, but it takes a really disciplined approach every night.”

The developments of both the lineup and Miller were notable, so it’s worth breaking down each:

‘Marine layer’ no more?

The lack of strikeouts was certainly an improvement -- six among 38 batters -- especially after entering the day with MLB’s second-highest K-rate (25.8%) and against a strikeout specialist in lefty Marlins starter Jesús Luzardo, who was held to a season-low three. But it was the big slugging moments that took center stage in the form of homers from Ty France, Eugenio Suárez and Tom Murphy.

France yanked a low-and-in slider to the pull side for a 420-foot blast, with two strikes, for a three-run shot to double their three-run lead and give Miller plenty of cushion to work with. France has now hit each of his six homers this year at home, an odd quirk given that T-Mobile Park typically favors pitchers.

Suárez also crushed his 420 feet into the J-Rod Squad beyond right-center, a spot where he’s regularly seen flyballs die in the early, cooler months. And Murphy pummeled his 408 feet to straightaway center for a blast that also might’ve cooled off in April or May.

It was perhaps no coincidence that the Mariners broke out on a clear night when it was 76 degrees at first pitch.

“I don't think it's just here,” France said of the marine layer. “I think there are a lot of places where that happens. But you notice it. I mean, you get a cold, wet night, the ball doesn't travel as well. So yeah, I think it's a real thing.”

That said, for as encouraging as any Mariners breakout has been, sustaining it has been a challenge.

“Tomorrow is a new day -- you've got to keep it moving,” Servais said. “We've had decent games and then we take a step back, so I'm anxious. I wish we could play tomorrow's game right now, I really do. But see who shows up tomorrow. I do really like the way we're moving offensively.”

Return of Miller Time

Miller labored through three walks and found himself in six three-ball counts while experiencing a notable downtick on his fastball velocity after the first inning. Yet he worked his way through the sixth and gave up just the one hit, a hugely encouraging turnaround after he was tagged for a combined 15 earned runs over his past two starts.

“I felt like I haven’t thrown in a month,” Miller said. “It was good getting out there and getting back on track.”

Speaking of deep counts, among his biggest moments came in the second, when he walked each of the first two batters in 3-1 counts to prompt a mound visit from pitching coach Pete Woodworth. Miller then induced a double play from Jean Segura and a lineout to Jon Berti to avert a potential crisis, as the Mariners only clung to a two-run lead at that point.

In the third, Miller threw a 1-2-3 inning immediately after his offense gave him a four-spot and created a six-run lead. That, in his eyes, was more rewarding.

“One thing that my college coach always pushed on us was to have a shutdown inning after you know the offense gives you some runs,” Miller said. “If the offense is productive, the last thing that I want to do is go out and have a long inning and have them stand out there and not be productive on my end.”

Miller was pushed back one day, swapping with Logan Gilbert, as a by-design effort to manage his workload -- because his success will be a big part of the Mariners taking another step forward this summer.