Mariners beat Reds 5-3, as rookie homers again
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Associated Press
SEATTLE — Rookie Kyle Lewis broke up a no-hitter bid with a home run for the second consecutive game, and the Seattle Mariners beat Sonny Gray and the Cincinnati Reds 5-3 on Wednesday night.
Just as he did on Tuesday night against the Reds’ Trevor Bauer, Lewis delivered Seattle’s first hit of the game with a towering homer. In Tuesday’s 4-3 win, Lewis hit a solo home run to left field in the fifth inning for his first career hit. On Wednesday, he sent Gray’s 105th pitch of the game into right field for a three-run homer in the seventh, his second major league hit.
Lewis was among four players called up Tuesday from Double-A Arkansas. The 6-foot-4 prospect is quickly becoming a clubhouse favorite because of his timely hits and inspiring backstory after recovering from a catastrophic knee injury.
Gray struck out nine against a lineup that included four rookies. He was rarely threatened, but was done in by a few long at-bats and a sloppy start to the seventh, when he hit Austin Nola with a pitch, then walked Kyle Seager.
The Mariners have been no-hit twice in 2019. No team has been no-hit three times in a season.
Gray was pulled after allowing a single to Daniel Vogelbach, one batter after Lewis. He matched his season high with 111 pitches in 6.1 innings. It was his third career two-hit performance.
Nola and Seager added RBI hits in the eighth inning against reliever Kevin Gausman.
Marco Gonzales (15-11) struck out seven and allowed five hits in seven innings as he extended his career-best win total. He gave up an RBI double to Joey Votto in the third and a solo home run to Phillip Ervin in the fourth. He didn’t allow another hit.
Brandon Brennan struck out two in a 1-2-3 eighth, and Anthony Bass appeared to earn the save with two strikeouts after reliever Sam Tuivailala loaded the bases with one out in the ninth. But, the third strike to pinch-hitter Derek Dietrich got away from catcher Omar Narvaez, and rolled to the backstop.
Home plate umpire John Libka called Dietrich out immediately, but Dietrich beat Narvaez’s throw to first and Tucker Barnhart scored.
Seattle manager Scott Servais argued that the game was over because Libka signaled the out. He was tossed after returning to the dugout.
Bass then got Votto to ground out to first for his second save in two nights.
