The Mariners won 9-6 on Friday night, snapping a five-game losing streak, but there's more work to be done.
The Seattle Mariners toppled the Houston Astros 9-6 on Friday night at T-Mobile Park, improving to 5-9 overall and snapping a five-game losing streak.
While the game wasn't perfect, it certainly featured some optimistic moments. Emerson Hancock rallied from a tough second inning to deliver five solid innings of three-run ball, while the bullpen of Gabe Speier, Eduard Bazardo, Matt Brash and Andres Munoz did its job. Only Cole Wilcox surrendered any damage, giving up a three-run homer in the eighth to Yordan Alvarez.
Offensively, Randy Arozarena hit a two-run homer and Dominic Canzone had a big RBI double, and the M's knocked Astros starter Tatsuya Imai out in the first inning.
And as a result, the M's have a huge opportunity on Saturday night they need to capitalize on.
While the Astros didn't use any of their high-leverage arms in the loss, their bullpen is completely spent. Steven Okert, Ryan Weiss and JP France all worked in long relief for Houston. Weiss and France are clearly unavailable on Saturday and are likely to be sent down to Triple-A, meaning that the M's will have cracks at additional lower-leverage arms over the next three games of this series.
If the M's can get to starter Lance McCullers early, they can knock him out and get an opportunity to face those lower-leverage arms once again. This would be especially noticeable given that it's a four-game series. The Mariners needed wins - and offensive improvement - badly in this series. They have a chance to get both, especially since Astros pitching has a disappointing 6.32 ERA as a team.
Furthermore, the M's could use a big start from Luis Castillo. If he can throw six innings or so and limit the need for manager Dan Wilson to utilize all of his leverage arms for a second straight day, that would set up the M's well for the final two games of the series also.
In other Mariners news
--The M's unveiled the Ichiro Suzuki statue outside of T-Mobile Park before the game on Friday. Ichiro's statue joins the status of Ken Griffey Jr. and Edgar Martinez. All three are in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
--M's top prospect Kade Anderson dominated on Friday night at Double-A Arkansas. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft (LSU), Anderson struck out 11 over five no-hit innings. He's pushing for a major league call-up this season.
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