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Seattle Mariners

Mariners Noon Number: Nelson Cruz hits big milestone

Seattle Mariners’ Nelson Cruz is greeted in the dugout after he hit a three-run home run during the eighth inning against the Oakland Athletics, Friday, July 7, 2017, in Seattle. It was his 300th career home run and the M’s won 7-2. (Ted S. Warren / Associated Press)
By Dave Nichols daven@spokesman.com(509) 459-5441

Seattle Mariners designated hitter Nelson Cruz hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning to help the M’s snap a four-game losing streak and beat the Oakland Athletics 7-2 on Friday at Safeco Field.

The homer, his 16th of the season, was the 300th of his career – the 10th active player with 300-plus home runs, joining Albert Pujols (603), Miguel Cabrera (457), Adrian Beltre (450), Carlos Beltran (431), Edwin Encarnacion (327), Jose Bautista (322), Matt Holliday (307), Adrian Gonzalez (309) and Curtis Granderson (306).

Cruz is the seventh player to record their 300th career home run with Seattle, joining Willie Horton (1979), Ken Griffey Jr. (1998), Jay Buhner (2000), Edgar Martinez (2004), Richie Sexson (2008) and Raul Ibanez (2013).

Griffey (417), Martinez (309) and Buhner (307) are the only players to hit 300 or more homers as Mariners.

Cruz has hit 102 of his 299 homers as a Mariner.

Cruz also recorded a season-high tying five RBI. He now leads MLB with 68 RBI this season, ahead of Jake Lamb (67), Marcell Ozuna (67) and Paul Goldschmidt (67).