Seattle Mariners Snap Five-Game Skid With Dominant Showing Against Pittsburgh Pirates
![Seattle Mariners third baseman Josh Rojas circles the bases after a solo home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday at PNC Park. Seattle Mariners third baseman Josh Rojas circles the bases after a solo home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday at PNC Park.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3930,h_2210,x_0,y_326/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/inside_the_mariners/01j5kjfncrjf3zqgc0na.jpg)
The Seattle Mariners needed a win on Sunday. They were on a five-game losing streak — tied for their longest skid this season — and were at risk of falling five games behind the Houston Astros in the American League West standings.
The Mariners got the job done and beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-3 to improve their record to 64-61 on the season. The win kept them at four games behind the Astros in the AL West.
Seattle pulled the bats out of hibernation right out of the gate. Cal Raleigh hit a two-run home run to right field in the top of the first to put the Mariners up 2-0. It was Raleigh's only hit of the day (he went 1-for-5) but it was the only one Seattle needed from the potential Gold Glove catcher. Every player in the Mariners starting lineup recorded a base hit.
Big knock by Big Dumper to get things started. #TridentsUp pic.twitter.com/SHg9eGcTe9
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) August 18, 2024
Victor Robles' first of two hits came in the top of the second. It was a two-run double that put Seattle up 4-0. The Mariners put up three more in the top of the fourth after a Josh Rojas hit a solo home run, Leo Rivas scored on a throwing error and Luke Raley hit an RBI sacrifice fly.
Ro makes it 🖐️ pic.twitter.com/EjJfVrIcWM
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) August 18, 2024
Dominic Canzone accounted for Seattle's third home run of the day with a solo shot to center field that made it 8-0 Mariners in the top of the fifth.
Canzone can 🤌 pic.twitter.com/lSfJkSIrE5
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) August 18, 2024
Pittsburgh finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth after Joey Bart hit a two-run homer to center.
Seattle scored its final two runs of the game in the top of the seventh after Raley scored on a grounder hit by Canzone and Rivas hit an RBI single.
The Pirates' final run came in the bottom of the eighth after Alika Williams scored on a passed ball. Williams' score resulted in the eventual final of 10-3.
The Mariners needed Sunday's win but they also needed the five games before it. The margin of error is razor thin in the playoff race. And Seattle will wrap up the nine-game road trip with a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers — arguably the favorites for the World Series this season.
There's 37 games left in the season for Seattle and the road to October is only getting bumpier.
Bryan Woo will get the start for the Mariners on Monday. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. PT.
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