Ackley’s defensive gem keys Mariners win
SEATTLE — Kyle Seager drove in two runs, Mike Zunino homered into the second deck at Safeco Field and Dustin Ackley stole a home run with a leaping catch at the wall in the Seattle Mariners’ 5-2 win over the New York Mets on Monday night.
After losing two of three to the Angels after the All-Star break, Seattle got a solid start from Roenis Elias and improved to 8-2 all-time against the Mets.
Elias (8-8) threw 5 1/3 innings before leaving with cramping in his left forearm. Seattle’s bullpen was stellar the rest of the way, helped by Ackley’s outstanding grab to rob Travis d’Arnaud of a home run in the sixth.
Seager had RBI singles in his first two at-bats and Zunino hit his 14th homer of the season, an estimated 415-foot shot off starter Jonathon Niese (5-5) into the second deck in left field.
Ackley added an RBI double in the eighth, part of a three-hit night.
Elias looked down at his hand after throwing a pitch to Lucas Duda leading off the sixth and was immediately visited by trainers and manager Lloyd McClendon. The left-hander threw a couple of warmup pitches and stayed in, striking out Duda on a 2-2 pitch.
That was enough for McClendon, who immediately signaled to the bullpen. Elias walked off to a nice ovation, but with a trainer at his side and continuing to try to stretch his hand. Seattle announced Elias left with cramping in his left forearm.
Dominic Leone took over and was immediately greeted by a deep drive from d’Arnaud. Ackley found the left-field fence, got just enough elevation to get his glove over the wall and made the catch in the webbing of his glove.
David Wright had an RBI single on the 10th anniversary of his debut in the majors, but the Mets’ only other run came on second baseman Robinson Cano’s error in the ninth that allowed Juan Lagares to score.
Niese was activated from the disabled list before the game. He hadn’t pitched since leaving in the first inning July 4 against Texas when he was struck in the back by Alex Rios’ line drive. He was placed on the DL two days later with a left shoulder strain.
Niese’s streak of 21 straight starts giving up three earned runs or less was snapped when Willie Bloomquist collected his third hit, an RBI double in the fourth inning for a 4-1 Seattle lead. Niese allowed 11 hits and struck out six in six innings.
Notes
The Mariners are giving starters Hisashi Iwakuma and Felix Hernandez an extra day of rest and will start Erasmo Ramirez today against the New York Mets.
Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon said Monday that he will give the main arms in his pitching staff extra rest when he can. Hernandez has pitched 12 straight starts going at least seven innings and giving up two earned runs or less. It’s the longest streak in the American League since 1970. Iwakuma will throw Thursday against Baltimore and Hernandez will face the Orioles on Friday.