Bat splinters, Mariners don't in another series win

SEATTLE -- When the Mariners are at their best, Julio Rodríguez is typically driving their offense. And in their 6-3 victory over the Red Sox on Wednesday afternoon, his bat quite literally manufactured the Mariners’ go-ahead run to help secure a much-needed series win over a team they’re chasing in the AL Wild Card race.

With runners on the corners and one out in the seventh inning at T-Mobile Park, just after the Mariners tied the game at 3, Rodríguez ripped an 87.8 mph cutter on his hands from lefty Richard Bleier that split his lumber in half and sent the barrel soaring in the same trajectory as the ball.

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What was shaping up to be a routine grounder -- potentially an inning-ending double play -- instead led to a collision between Boston third baseman Rafael Devers and shortstop Yu Chang, all thanks to the distracting chaos of what was left of Rodríguez’s bat heading in their direction and eventually landing precisely where Chang was positioned when Bleier delivered the pitch.

After the dust quite literally settled on the infield dirt, Rodríguez had reached first base easily and Tom Murphy scored standing from third, which allowed the Mariners to extend the rally.

“It kind of feels like ‘21 a little bit,” Murphy said, “where we're just kind of riding the momentum of the second half, keep winning series after series and, hopefully, we'll put ourselves in a good spot at the end of the year.”

Eugenio Suárez immediately followed with an inside-out single to mark his eighth straight game with an RBI, MLB’s longest active streak and tied for the longest this year, with Nolan Arenado and Justin Turner. Suárez can tie the Mariners’ record of nine set by Edgar Martinez in 1995 on Thursday in Anaheim.

Rodríguez and Suárez put the finishing touches on the four-run seventh as part of a double steal that drew a throw to second from Red Sox catcher Connor Wong attempting to nab Suárez, which allowed Rodríguez to race home from third with a feet-first slide.

“The first-and-third play, it's something that we've talked about here recently,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “... The combination was right, we executed it, picked up a big run in the game. And a credit to our guys -- they're paying attention, they're getting the signs, they're looking for opportunities.”

The victory clinched the Mariners’ fourth straight series win, all against contending teams: Toronto, Minnesota, Arizona and now Boston. It was also their fourth straight win in a rubber game. Seattle also chipped into Boston’s MLB-best 43-2 record when leading after six innings thanks to the late offensive outburst.

These teams are the first on the outside looking in for the final AL Wild Card spot. And in that context, the Mariners did direct damage to a club they’re chasing and now sit three games out.

Their next opponent, the Angels, are also among a crowded field of contenders. A win on Thursday in Anaheim -- with Shohei Ohtani on the mound -- would advance the Mariners to a season-high five games above .500. And after Wednesday, there is only one-third of the season remaining.

“It just feels great around the clubhouse,” said Logan Gilbert, whose past six starts have led to wins. “It seems like everybody's clicking. And I think the main thing, like, we're never really out of the game. When one person gets going, it seems like everybody gets going.”

Rodríguez and Suárez had the headlining moments, along with Cal Raleigh’s two-run homer in a 10-pitch at-bat in the sixth inning. But they were positioned thanks to new outfielder Dominic Canzone, who led off the seventh with a walk; Murphy, who ripped his third hard-hit single of the game; and Cade Marlowe, who punched a pinch-hit knock up the middle against the tough lefty Bleier.

Canzone is a newcomer after Monday’s trade with Arizona and expected to be a contributor. Marlowe has been a pleasant late-summer surprise filling in for Jarred Kelenic (fractured left foot) and Murphy has blossomed into a legitimate everyday player after beginning the year in a mostly backup role.

Servais said after the Trade Deadline passed on Tuesday that a postseason push is “not going to be easy.” But the Mariners aren’t in too deep of a hole, and continuing to win series will help them keep climbing.