Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais knows what it takes for his team to reach its full potential.
“You've got to have better at-bats, consistent contact up and down the lineup and everybody has to do their job,” he said. “I'm confident in the talent we've assembled and the makeup of the guys here, but ultimately you've got to perform.”
Seattle did just that on Tuesday night, pounding out eight extra-base hits in an 8-3 win over the host San Diego Padres. The Mariners look to replicate that performance in the final game of the two-game series on Wednesday.
Julio Rodriguez had four of the Mariners' 13 hits and Cal Raleigh hit home runs from both sides of the plate, went 3-5 with four RBIs, giving Seattle its most runs since a 9-0 win at Miami on June 22nd.
For one night, the Mariners didn't look like the team that came into Tuesday's game with the worst batting average (.217) in the majors and the fourth-fewest run total. While they did feature 11 strikeouts — they lead the majors in whiffs and average more than 10 per game — they at least made up for it with their slugging.
“Whatever your job is on the club — some guys we brought in to move the ball, other guys have to think of a way to get on base — do your job and if everybody does that collectively, we have a really good ball club,” Servais said.
Seattle's pitching, which has held the opposition to a major-league-low .219 average and owns an American League-best 3.54 ERA, was perfect on Tuesday night. The Mariners allowed just four hits to a team that ranks second in the majors with a .262 average.
Bryce Miller (6-7, 3.84 ERA) will try to keep it going on Wednesday.
The right-hander earned a no-decision in the Mariners' 7-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday, allowing eight hits and two runs in 5 2/3 innings. It will be his first career appearance against San Diego.
The Padres will call on one of their most reliable starters, Michael King (7-5, 3.51 ERA). His most recent start was a 3-1 win Thursday at Texas, where he gave up four hits and one run with two walks and five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. King has faced Seattle twice last year while pitching for the New York Yankees, and he gave up one run in 2 2/3 innings.
San Diego has lost three games in a row, but now it's about to get help for its already strong lineup. Second baseman Xander Bogaerts, who has been out of the field since fracturing his left shoulder on May 20, took batting practice before Tuesday night's game and sprayed line drives around the field against the minor-leaguers.
The plan is that Bogaerts, who went 2-11 in four rehab games for Triple-A El Paso last week, will play a game or two at Class-A Lake Elsinore. If things go according to plan, he could be activated before the Padres' Friday home game against the Atlanta Braves.
“Feels good,” he said. “Getting there, getting close. Hopefully, I'll be okay soon.”
Bogaerts is batting .219 with four homers and 14 RBIs in 187 at-bats for San Diego this year, but he was picking up offensive momentum when he got hurt. He was 8-for-25 (.320) over his past seven games.
–Field Level Media
