Seager’s slump-ending HR lifts M’s past Rangers

ARLINGTON, Texas — Kyle Seager didn’t know the specifics. The fact that he was hitless in his previous 21 at-bats wasn’t on his mind when he stepped to the plate in the eighth inning. Heck, he really didn’t even know he was in what people considered “a slump.”

“I realized I hadn’t had a hit in a while,” he said. “But it’s just one of those things you go through in a season.”

Maybe if he was dwelling on what he hadn’t done the past few games, he wouldn’t have done what he did in that game-changing at-bat Friday night.

With the Mariners down 1-0 and looking at being shutout for the third time this season at Rangers Ballpark, Seager changed the entire game with one swing, blasting a two-run homer to right field off reliever Neal Cotts. It gave the Seattle Mariners a lead they would not relinquish in a 3-1 win over the Texas Rangers.

“I didn’t know until the postgame interview that I was 0-for-21. so that was good to hear,” Seager deadpanned. “Sometimes you can take bad swings and get hits and other times you’ll feel good and not get hits. For me, the past couple days have started to feel a little bit better.”

It’s typical Seager, who has been the Mariners’ steadiest hitter this season.

“We knew he was struggling a little,” acting manager Robby Thompson said. “The thing about him, you’d never know it with the way he handles and carries himself, whether he’s 10-for-20 or 0-for-21. That’s a sign of a pro right there.”

It was Seager’s 18th home run of the season. It also extended his hitting streak at Rangers Ballpark to 12 games. In his past 15 games against Texas this season, he’s hitting .414 (24-for-58) with three homers and 10 RBI.

Cotts, who gave up the game-changing HR, has allowed just two home runs all season. The other was to Raul Ibanez in Arlington on July 4.

“He’s got good stuff,” Seager said of Cotts. “He’s got a little angle to his ball and it’s got a lot of life on it and he has a cutter and slider to go with it. He’s one of those guys you just have to hang in there at the plate and hopefully get a pitch you can handle.”

Seager’s homer put Hisashi Iwakuma in line for the win. The Mariners starter pitched seven strong innings, giving up just one run on four hits. He struck out eight and walked three.

He was quite happy to see Seager’s shot.

“I was in the dugout and I was yelling, ‘Get over that fence,’” Iwakuma said through translator Antony Suzuki.

Iwakuma’s lone run allowed came in the fourth inning when a lead-off walk to Ian Kinsler proved costly as he came around to score on A.J. Pierzynski’s single to left. But Iwakuma shook it off, worked out of minor jams and deep into the game.

“The last two starts against this team, they got me in the sixth and seventh inning and today I wanted to go through seven innings,” he said.

He accomplished his goal and handed the ball to the Seattle bullpen with a 2-1 lead.

Of course, nothing has been simple for the Mariners’ bullpen and no lead has proved to be completely safe in any game this season.

Oliver Perez came in and walked the first batter he faced on four pitches. And then after getting ahead of Leonys Martin, who was trying to bunt, 0-2, Perez hit him in the thigh to put him on base.

With runners on first and second and no outs, Thompson called on right-hander Yoervis Medina. Elvis Andrus sacrifice bunted the runners into scoring position and Medina struck out Ian Kinsler after running the count full. With first base open and the hot-hitting Adrian Beltre coming to the plate, Thompson decided to intentionally walk the former Mariner to load the bases and then have lefty Charlie Furbush face left-handed hitting A.J. Pierzynski.

“He’s like one of the hottest hitters in baseball right now, why let that guy beat us?” Thompson said of Beltre. “We aren’t going to take our chances there with Adrian Beltre. He lives for those situations.”

Furbush came in from the bullpen and did his job. He got ahead quickly on Pierzynski with two sliders for strikes. Pierzynski watched a slider go by but then got busted on the hands with a Furbush fastball. The result was a broken bat bloop that Seager caught behind third base.

“We talked about going another slider, I figured I’d go with the heater,” Furbush said. “I wanted to go away, but it went hard in. It worked out all right.”

Justin Smoak gave the beleaguered bullpen some much-needed insurance, blasting his 14th homer of the season — a solo shot deep to right — off Tanner Scheppers to push the lead to 3-1.

“Smoak’s home run was huge,” closer Danny Farquhar said. “You can be so much more aggressive.”

After blowing a save in his last outing, Farquhar worked a quick 1-2-3 inning to get his sixth save of the season.

“It’s always good after a rough outing to get back on the mound and get after it again,” Farquhar said.

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.

X
Prep roundup for Monday, March 18

Prep roundup for Monday, March 18: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

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.

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.