The Mariners completed a four-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon at T-Mobile Park, winning their eighth straight with a 6-5 victory. Matt Festa claimed the victory for Seattle pitching just one inning while Paul Sewald claimed the save. Carlos Santana and Eugenio Suarez were stand out players in the series. Santana went 2-3 Sunday with two home runs, three RBIs and three runs score while going 1-3 in Saturday night’s 2-1 win, with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored.
Also in Saturday night’s victory, Robbie Ray found himself with the bases loaded but worked his way out of it. He went six innings allowing three hits, one earned run and six strikeouts. In Friday night’s 5-2 victory, Suarez went 2-5 with a home run, three RBIs and a run scored. In Thursday night’s 8-3 win, he went 2-3 with a home run, walk, three RBIs and two runs scored.
Cal Raleigh went 2-4 with a home run, three RBIs and a run scored in Thursday night’s victory. Marco Gonzales toed the rubbed on Thursday night for Seattle and went 6.2 innings. Gonzales gave up just eight hits and two earned runs.
In each game combined, the Mariners outscored Toronto 21-11. Seattle is 9-1 in their last 10 games and are now above the .500 mark. Before the Toronto series, the win streak started with two against the Oakland Athletics and another two against the San Diego Padres.
Seattle currently sits second in the AL West with a record of 45-42 with a .517 winning percentage. The Mariners sit 12 games back of the first-place Houston Astros, but good enough to be tied for a wild card spot. Even just being tied for a wild card spot would’ve been deemed unthinkable just two weeks ago.
The Mariners have an off day tomorrow as they travel to the nation’s capital for a two-game interleague series against the Washington Nationals. They then head to Arlington, Texas for a three-game set against fellow AL West foe, the Texas Rangers before the All-Star Break. If the Mariners can carry this momentum forward and finish strong going into the break, they’ll be set up well for a second-half surge.
If the current energy reveals anything, it’s that of last season when they fell just short a wild card spot. With the talent pool, they have, including new All-Star Julio Rodriguez, the Mariners are on the rise and the future is bright.
Northwest Sports Desk 