Mariners impressive in first game under new hitting coach Edgar Martinez
SEATTLE – Edgar Martinez might want to retire right now after just one game as the Seattle Mariners’ hitting coach. It’s not going to get much better than Saturday’s 6-3 victory over the Houston Astros.
The Mariners hit three home runs for the first time in 37 games. Take a bow Nelson Cruz, Seth Smith and Mark Trumbo. Cruz’s homer was his first in 21 games; Trumbo’s blast was his first extra-base hit as a Mariner.
They scored their first two runs, in erasing an early 2-0 deficit, by showing uncommon patience in drawing four walks against Astros ace Dallas Keuchel (8-3) in the second inning.
And when the Astros threatened to get back into the game by scoring once in the seventh inning, the Mariners counter-punched later in the inning by getting an RBI single from a struggling Robinson Cano.
For a hitting coach, that pretty much checks off every box, doesn’t it?
The Mariners also got another strong start from Taijuan Walker, who received a standing ovation when he exited with one out in the seventh inning and a runner at first base.
Walker (5-6) gave up two solo homers in the second inning but little else; he struck out a career-high 11 and didn’t walk a batter before handing a 5-2 lead to Vidal Nuno.
OK, that move didn’t work out.
Nuno walked Luis Valbuena and yielded an RBI single to Marwin Gonzalez – a run that was charged to Walker.
The Mariners then turned to former closer Fernando Rodney with one out and runners at first and second. It was the first time this season that Rodney entered a game with runners on base.
The runners moved to second and third on Hank Conger’s grounder to first, but Rodney stranded them both when George Springer grounded out to short.
The Mariners then got the run back.
Austin Jackson drew a leadoff walk from reliever Tony Sipp, went to second on a one-out wild pitch and scored on Cano’s RBI single.
Mark Lowe gave up two one-out singles in the eighth, which brought the tying run to the plate and Charlie Furbush into the game.
After Furbush struck out Colby Rasmus, the Mariners called on closer Carson Smith to face all-or-nothing slugger Chris Carter. Smith struck out Carter.
Smith then closed out the victory for his fifth save in five chances since replacing Rodney at the back of the bullpen.
The Mariners now have a chance to sweep first-place Houston after entering Friday with a 2-8 mark in the season series.
Iwakuma pitches for Everett
Right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma gave up one run and three hits over 3 2/3 innings Saturday night in a rehab start for Short-A Everett against Eugene (Cubs).
Iwakuma threw 56 pitches in his first game action since April 20. He suffered a strained back muscle on April 21 in a workout.
Iwakuma, 34, was 0-1 with a 6.61 ERA this season in three starts after going a combined 38-20 with a 3.07 ERA over the previous three seasons.
Barring any setbacks, Iwakuma’s rehab is expected to shift to Triple-A Tacoma for a Thursday start against visiting Reno