Top of Mariners' lineup ignites win over Crew

MILWAUKEE -- When the 2019 season began, the Mariners knew they’d be able to score runs. A lineup built around Mitch Haniger, Edwin Encarnacion and Jay Bruce would be sure to provide some thump with impressive experience.

Now, with half the season gone, Encarnacion and Bruce have both been traded and Haniger has missed the better part of the last month recovering from a ruptured testicle. But even without three middle-of-the-order bats, Seattle has still managed to score runs.

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Despite scoring just four runs in Wednesday’s 4-2 victory over the Brewers, the Mariners’ early and late offense proved to be a recipe for success.

“Our team is just in a good stretch right now,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “Those games have been a struggle for us. Unless we score six or seven, it’s pretty quiet in here after the game.”

Seattle’s offense carried it to victory for the second day in a row and sixth time in its last seven games. Since the trade of Encarnacion to the Yankees on June 16, the Mariners are averaging 5.8 runs per game in 11 games.

“It’s hard to lose a bat like Edwin’s,” Servais said. “The Brewers got a good team. We didn’t get 10 tonight. We had just enough to get it done.”

The Mariners rank second in MLB with 145 homers and have still done a lot of their damage via the long ball with 14 homers over the 10 game stretch, but the recent production from Mallex Smith and J.P. Crawford at the top of the order has created more opportunities for the club’s big offensive outputs. Seattle's top two hitters combined to go 5-for-10 with two doubles, two triples, three runs scored and three RBIs in Wednesday’s win.

“They got a lot of energy. They’re young and they have a lot to prove,” Servais said. “Probably should have scored a few more runs than we actually did.

“J.P. had an unbelievable game tonight. Couple of doubles, a triple. Great play defensively. We’re really starting to see him emerge. Mallex again with good at-bats tonight. Lot of traffic."

Crawford added three hits in Wednesday’s win, all of the extra-base variety, and he drove Smith in twice. Crawford is now hitting .367 since returning from the 10-day injured list on June 14.

“[Smith] starts the game out with a triple. Starting the game like that, it makes you wanna go up there and hit,” Crawford said. “When he’s on base, it’s electrifying. You want to go up and hit after him. Just trying to be on time and not do too much. Keep it simple and let the hands work.”

Mariners finding success with the opener

The Mariners’ use of the opener has come with mixed results, but their staff had its best “tandem start” since employing MLB’s newest pitching strategy. Matt Carasiti got his first taste as Seattle’s opener and threw a scoreless inning before giving way to Wade LeBlanc.

“It wasn’t anything really new. Last year, I was a starter in Japan. I kind of just do it the same way,” Carasiti said. “I’ll do whatever they want. I’m here to pitch. If they want me to throw like that, I’ll do it."

LeBlanc has looked comfortable in his new role as the Mariners’ follower to the opener and had success again against the Brewers tossing five innings with six strikeouts and a walk. The only runs he allowed came in the sixth inning on Mike Moustakas and Ben Gamel home runs, with the latter an inside-the-park shot.

The veteran southpaw is now 3-0 with a 3.54 ERA in his new role with 24 strikeouts and just five walks.

“If you give me the ball, I’ll throw it. Doesn’t matter where,” LeBlanc said. “With any quality lineup, you have to get ahead. From there you have to work your best stuff on the edges and not catch too much of the plate.”

Deja vu for Adams

One night after Servais called on reliever Austin Adams to get a big out against 2018 National League Most Valuable Player Award winner Christian Yelich to end a rally, the right-hander was asked to do it again. And again, he was successful.

With the Mariners holding a 3-2 lead in the seventh inning and a runner on first, Adams faced Yelich, who he struck out 24 hours earlier in a similar spot. Just like the night before, Adams worked himself into a 3-2 count before getting Yelich, who is 0-for-8 in the first two games of the series, to swing through a slider and ending the threat.