The two-time Seattle Mariners All-Star struggled for much of the first half, but has turned it around in a big way over his last dozen appearances.
The Seattle Mariners moved back to .500 at 50-50 on Sunday afternoon, courtesy of a 6-3 win over the San Francisco Giants at T-Mobile Park.
With 62 games to play, the Mariners are just 0.5 games back of the Texas Rangers in the American League West, and they are also one game back of the Boston Red Sox in the American League wild card race.
The first half for Seattle was frustrating, punctuated by the frustrations of individual players, including Cal Raleigh and closer Andres Munoz.
While the former is still looking to find his form after working back from injury, the latter has come back in a big a way.
Munoz recorded the save on Sunday, pitching a tidy 1-2-3 inning against the Giants. As noted by Mariners PR, he has not allowed an earned run in any of his last 12 appearances dating back to June 16. He has 18 strikeouts and four walks in that time, while limiting opponents to a .125 batting average at 5-for-40.
Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Andres Munoz (75) pitches to the San Francisco Giants the ninth inning at T-Mobile Park. Steven Bisig-Imagn ImagesHis fastball velocity has also regularly climbed into 100s, which has made his slider that much more effective. But the real difference for Munoz has been the increased ability to throw strikes.
When he's gotten in trouble this season, he's either walked guys, or fallen behind to the point where the hitter was in the drivers seat.
On Sunday, he needed just nine pitches to dispose of the Giants and record his 17th save. His ERA is now back under four at 3.97, which is much more respectable than the nearly six ERA that he displayed earlier in the season.
He now has 55 strikeouts in just 36.1 innings.
Munoz's re-emergence as a dominant closer has been a major development for a Mariners' bullpen that is thin right now.
Seattle is missing prized set-up man Matt Brash, as well as multi-inning men Carlos Vargas and Cooper Criswell. Furthermore, because of the six-man rotation, the M's are operating one physical bullpen arm short as well.
Therefore, it's important for each member of the 'pen to pitch well - and keep pitch counts low. Munoz has obliged of late.
The Mariners will start a new series against the last-place Cincinnati Reds on Monday night. First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. PT. George Kirby takes the mound against left-hander Andrew Abbott.
A new episode of the 'Refuse to Lose Territory' podcast will come out on Tuesday morning as well.
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