Mariners ride City Connect mojo to walk-off win

SEATTLE -- The Mariners have reached a stage of the season where they’re hoping to channel superstition into a lengthy winning streak, wearing their Nike City Connect uniforms for the second straight game on Saturday night.

And after another tense win over the Rangers, this one a 5-4 walk-off decision secured in crunch time, they’re now 14-1 when donning these uniforms.

Randy Arozarena ripped a bases-loaded single that glanced off the glove of shortstop Josh Smith with one out in the bottom of the ninth, scoring Victor Robles from third base and helping Seattle to its 10th walk-off of the season.

Robles reached when pulling a double into the left-field corner, then stole third base while Julio Rodríguez was at the dish, his second swipe of third of the game and 11th since joining the Mariners. The Rangers intentionally walked Rodríguez in a 1-1 count, then walked Raleigh on four pitches to load the bases for Arozarena.

Earlier in the game, Rodríguez and Luke Raley each had massive homers, allowing the Mariners to hold a tie into walk-off territory after Logan Gilbert surrendered a pair of two-run blasts. And finally, with more than marginal run support, Seattle snapped a five-game skid with Gilbert on the mound. The Mariners had also lost nine of the past 10 behind the first-time All-Star.

Almost exclusively reserved for Friday home games, the Mariners wanted to parlay the mojo that they manifested in a dramatic comeback the night prior -- along with the track record that they’ve had in 2024 when wearing their City Connects, which were installed last season.