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SEATTLE — The rebuilding Seattle Mariners are off to a surprising start.
And their hitters are the reason.
Omar Narvaez hit a three-run homer off Rick Porcello in Seattle’s seven-run third inning, helping the Mariners to a 10-8 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday.
Dee Gordon had two hits and three RBIs as Seattle put together another impressive performance at the plate. The Mariners scored 34 times while taking three of four from the defending World Series champions.
“Right now we’ve got really good confidence, and we know what we can do,” Narvaez said. “Everybody’s basically enjoying the game. Laughing, putting a smile on our face.”
Jay Bruce also homered for Seattle, and Mitch Haniger had two hits and two RBI. The Mariners have 15 homers on the season, and have hit at least one in every game in their 5-1 start.
“I knew we’d hit some homers,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “It seems like the ball is carrying here, but those balls are hit. Not too many cheap ones getting out of here.”
Porcello (0-1) allowed nine runs, four earned, and six hits in 22⁄3 innings. The 2016 AL Cy Young Award winner struck out three and walked four.
Boston starters Porcello, Chris Sale, Nathan Eovaldi and Eduardo Rodriguez combined to give up 22 earned runs on 27 hits in the four games against Seattle.
“If you told me coming into the series that it was going to be this way I’d say, ‘No chance,’ ” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “But it’s baseball. Those guys are going to be OK throughout the season. We know that.”
The Red Sox almost came back in the ninth inning.
With Seattle leading 10-7, Cory Gearrin came in to pitch for Seattle and walked the bases loaded with one out. Gearrin was replaced by Chasen Bradford, who walked pinch-hitter Blake Swihart to force in a run before retiring Christian Vazquez and Jackie Bradley Jr. to end the game.
Mariners starter Wade LeBlanc (1-0) struggled, allowing six runs, four earned, and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings.
But, as has been the case so far this season, the Mariners’ offense was enough to make up the difference,
Narvaez’s drive to right in the third inning put Seattle ahead for good. Haniger capped the big inning with a two-run double.
Mariners outfielder Mallex Smith scored from first base on the aforementioned Haniger double. The speedy Smith didn’t even stop at home, sprinting helmet-less through the plate and into the dugout, happily high-fiving teammates along the way.
In that moment, Mallex mirrored the Mariners’ offense in March. Just when you think they’re going to stop, these M’s keep right on going.
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