Minnesota hands Mariners second consecutive loss
Published 1:30 am Friday, May 17, 2019
Associated Press
SEATTLE — Martín Pérez rebounded from his first loss of the season to overpower Seattle into the seventh inning, Max Kepler drove in three and the Minnesota Twins beat the Mariners 7-1 Friday night for their fourth straight victory.
Pérez (6-1) was knocked around for three earned runs and lasted just five innings in his last outing. But the lefty became the third Minnesota pitcher with six victories, joining José Berríos and Jake Odorizzi, as he worked free from a jam in the first inning and avoided trouble the rest of the way.
Pérez allowed five hits and struck out seven while matching a season high with four walks over 6 2/3 innings. Seattle’s run came when Edwin Encarnación’s two-out RBI single in the sixth inning barely cleared the glove of shortstop Jorge Polanco. The Mariners had a chance to get to Pérez early but left runners at second and third in the first inning after consecutive strikeouts of Domingo Santana and Ryon Healy.
In his seven starts since joining the Twins rotation, Pérez has a 2.01 ERA in 44 2/3 innings.
Seattle starter Marco Gonzales (5-3) lost his third straight decision. He retired the first seven before Ehire Adrianza’s solo home run in the third inning. The Twins battered Gonzales for five runs and seven hits in the fourth and fifth innings. Kepler had the last of four straight hits in the fourth inning to drive in a run and added a two-out, two-run single in the fifth inning.
