Mariners hang on to beat Rockies 8-7

DENVER — Count this as a give-back game by the Mariners to their King on the eve of his 10th anniversary in the big leagues.

After so often squandering wonderful performances by Felix Hernandez over the years, the Mariners mustered a three-homer attack Monday night when he wasn’t in top form.

The result was an 8-7 victory over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

Yep, it was 10 years ago Tuesday that Hernandez, at age 19, made his major-league debut by pitching well in a loss at Detroit. That set a tone, didn’t it.

On Monday, though, the Mariners built a 7-1 lead for Hernandez through 2 1/2 innings on homers by Kyle Seager, Nelson Cruz and Brad Miller against Colorado starter Eddie Butler, who departed after four innings.

Then the Rockies began chipping away. Two runs in the fourth inning and another in the sixth. Hernandez wasn’t sharp. For a change, he didn’t need to be to come away with a victory.

Hernandez (13-6) lasted until two outs in the seventh when he exited with a runner on second. He have up four runs and 11 hits but walked just one and struck out nine.

Joe Beimel got the final out in the seventh. Tom Wilhelmsen worked around a pair of two-out singles in the eighth by striking out Jose Reyes with runners at second and third.

It didn’t come easy at the end.

When Wilhelmsen gave up a leadoff single in the ninth, the Mariners called on lefty Rob Rasmussen, one of the pitchers they acquired last Friday from Toronto for reliever Mark Lowe.

Rasmussen jumped ahead 0-2 on Carlos Gonzalez before yielding a line single. The Mariners then summoned rookie closer Carson Smith, who gave up a two-run double to Ben Paulsen.

That made it 8-6.

Nick Hundley’s single through the right side, after Smith failed to get a check-swing call for a third strike, scored Paulsen. After Brandon Barnes replaced Paulsen as a pinch runner, Kyle Parker singled to right.

The tying run was on third, and the winning run was on first with one out.

Smith struck out pinch-hitter Michael McKendry before closing out the game when Charlie Blackmon flied to center.

Hey, still willing to dream? The Mariners have won three of their last four.

They jumped Butler (3-8) for four runs in the first inning.

Seager lined a one-out double over the head of center fielder Charlie Blackmon and scored on Robinson Cano’s two-out single through the right side.

After Seth Smith walked, Jesus Montero drove a two-run double into the left-center gap for a 3-0 lead. Montero scored on Miller’s single to center.

The Rockies pulled one run back in their first. Blackmon led off with a double and scored on Reyes’ single past second before Hernandez steadied and retired the next three batters.

The Mariners got that run back on Seager’s 448-foot homer with two outs in the second inning. Cruz followed with a 408-foot homer to left, and the lead was 6-1.

Cruz’s homer was his 30th of the season and extended his hitting streak to 14 games. He is the first Mariner to reach 30 since Russell Branyan finished with 31 in 2009.

Miller’s two-out homer in the third, a 373-foot drive to left, extended the lead to 7-1.

Butler managed a scoreless fourth before exiting for a pinch-hitter when the Rockies put runners at first and third with one out later in the inning. The move paid off when Drew Stubbs delivered an RBI infield single.

When Reyes added a two-out RBI single, Colorado was back to within 7-3, but Hernandez stopped it there by stranding runners at second and third. Butler gave up seven runs and seven hits in four innings.

The Rockies pulled closer in the sixth after Nick Hundley led off with a single on a slow hopper to short. He stole second with two outs and scored when Blackmon doubled on a grounder just inside third.

Cano’s two-out double, a liner off the right-field wall in the seventh, pushed the lead to 8-4, but the Mariners missed the chance for a big inning when Smith struck out with runners at second and third.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

X
Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for March 8-17

The Athlete of the Week nominees for March 8-17. Voting closes at… Continue reading

X
Silvertips’ playoff picture coming together as season hits final week

Everett is officially the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed and is likely heading into a matchup with Kelowna or Vancouver.

Los Angeles Rams offensive guard Tremayne Anchrum (72) against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Seahawks add to position of need, sign guard Tremayne Anchrum Jr.

The 25-year-old has played in 31 games, starting once, since being drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 2020.

Everett Community College head coach Chet Hovde watches as the women's team practices on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
EvCC coach Chet Hovde, who ‘lived for’ basketball, dies at 77

Coach Hovde graduated from Everett High School in 1965. He spent 33 years as the women’s basketball coach at the community college.

Jackson’s Ian Friedrichsen celebrates his goal with his teammates during the game against Bothell on Thursday, May 11, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep boys soccer: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines for this high school boys soccer season

Jackson’s Rachel Sysum is hugged by Leneyah Mitchell after hitting a home run during the game against Bothell on Friday, May 19, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep softball: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines to keep an eye on this high school softball season.

X
Prep roundup for Friday, March 15

Prep roundup for Friday, March 15: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Glacier Peak’s Samantha Christensen runs to home plate to celebrate her home run with her teammates during the game against Snohomish on Friday, March 15, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
GALLERY: Glacier Peak softball tops rival Snohomish

The Grizzlies prevail 9-5 in a clash of area powers.

X
Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14

Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

The Washington Wolfpack logo is revealed during the Everett AFL team unveiling at Tony V's Garage in Everett, Washington onThursday, Oct. 26, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett’s new arena football team to have 4 televised games

The NFL Network will broadcast 30 AFL games this season, including two Wolfpack home games.

Washington coach Mike Hopkins yells to the team during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against California, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Seattle. California won 82-80. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Looking back at Mike Hopkins’ turbulent tenure as UW men’s basketball coach

The departing Huskies coach had highs early, but the good times didn’t last long.

X
Prep roundup for Saturday, March 16

Prep roundup for Saturday, March 16: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.