Mariners' teamwork on display at plate

SEATTLE -- Jarred Kelenic sat on second base with his legs sprawled at a 90-degrees angle on Monday night, a gesture reflective of how certain he was that replay review would show that he was safe for his 10th stolen base instead of representing the third out in the fifth inning.

It was a crucial juncture in the Mariners’ 8-4 victory over the Nationals at T-Mobile Park. If the call was upheld, Seattle would’ve clung to only a one-run lead for Luis Castillo, who at that point was solid but shaky.

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Instead, a challenge from Mariners manager Scott Servais proved prudent, as Kelenic remained on second base and went on to score on an RBI knock from Mike Ford. Then Ford raced all the way home on a double off the center-field wall from Kolten Wong, creating enough cushion for Castillo to settle in, strike out seven and clear the seventh inning to begin Seattle’s final homestand before the All-Star break.

Kelenic’s hustle and athleticism on the stolen base was crucial, but even more paramount was the production that immediately followed. That sequence was part of three runs that Seattle scored with two outs. (Julio Rodríguez’s up-the-middle RBI single came with two outs in the fourth.)

Run production in leverage moments is typically a characteristic of good teams, and in this up-and-down season, the Mariners are trying to find a way to string off wins precisely like Monday’s to create momentum leading into the break.

“We're approaching the midway through the season,” Kelenic said. “But I think there's no better time to start picking up right now.”

Even some of their outs were productive, as Eugenio Suárez and Teoscar Hernández each had a sacrifice fly. Suárez’s was set up by a routine groundout from Cal Raleigh, who moved Hernández from second to third base. Raleigh was 0-for-5 but still had a productive night, in the eyes of his peers.

“We've talked a little bit about where we're at in the season and what we need to do to put a good streak together,” Servais said. “And it's no coincidence when you're selfless like that and you give yourself up for the team, then all of a sudden, instead of just getting one run, we ended up with three runs out that inning.”

Suárez also crushed a solo homer, his eighth of the year. J.P. Crawford also went deep, leading off the game with his sixth to tie his 2022 mark.

For a team that has admittedly lacked hits in big moments -- and has been admittedly guilty of pressing in some of those situations -- Monday’s pass-the-baton approach was the type that the coaching staff has been preaching could lead to far more success.

“Once a pitcher realizes that we're not chasing, he's going to have to give us pitches,” Kelenic said. “And that just sets it up for the guys behind you. So if you can just stay really tight to your strike zone and into the heart of the plate, I think that just helps everybody behind you.”

The offense finding life also helped Castillo settle in after again he labored through some shaky command early. He surrendered a leadoff homer to Lane Thomas to begin the game, then another solo shot to Dominic Smith in the second. And while he only had one walk, he found himself in four three-ball counts and prompted a mound visit from pitching coach Pete Woodworth for his third straight start. But Castillo settled in to retire each of his final seven batters and 10 of his final 12.

“I kept in there battling and we were able to fight on, and the offense was a big help for me -- being able to score those runs and coming away with that win,” Castillo said through interpreter Freddy Llanos.

No, the Nationals are not a contender. With the National League’s worst record (30-48), they are a trademark victim of the Mariners, who are 24-11 against teams under .500 and 14-28 against those with winning records, such as the Yankees and Orioles, against whom they just completed a 2-4 road trip.

Moreover, the Mariners are a much better team at home (22-17) than on the road (16-22), as most teams are. So while Monday was not the type of victory that will grab headlines, it was still the type that this club needs -- because the opposite outcome would’ve been far more dire.