Takeaway
Franklin Gutierrez and Dae-Ho Lee each went deep as the Mariners went seven games over .500 with a 6-4 win over Tampa Tuesday night at Safeco Field, clinching another series win (box). Seattle has won seven of nine games and is 18-7 since April 13. Gutierrez’s two-run homer helped provide a 3-0 lead in the first.
Essential moment
For the second night in a row, the Mariners (20-13) used a three-run homer to turn a narrow lead into a comfortable advantage. Lee’s three-run shot in the fourth put Seattle ahead 6-2 and gave starter Wade Miley a little breathing room.
Pitchers
Miley had another decent outing in earning his third win in four starts. He surrendered a pair of solo home runs to Tampa Bay 1B Steve Pearce, then a third to Everett native Steven Souza Jr., but the Rays had little else.
Miley allowed four runs on four hits, striking out six. His ERA dropped from 8.04 to 4.91 over his past four starts. Manager Scott Servais went to his closer a little early, bringing in Steve Cishek with two outs in the eighth, and the right-hander delivered with his 11th save of the season.
Hitters
Gutierrez and Lee provided the power, while the hits came from familiar sources. SS Ketel Marte added two more and is now 6-for-9 in the Tampa series. Robinson Cano (10 games) and Kyle Seager (11) extended their hitting streaks.
Words
“I’m a rookie, but I’m not a kid; I’m not a baby. I’m 35 years old. But I have fun playing.”
– Lee, through an interpreter, responding to Servais’s assessment that Lee plays with the enthusiasm of a kid
Noteworthy
SS Ketel Marte overcame an ankle injury in Tuesday’s batting practice to start the game . . . The Mariners appeared to take a 4-0 lead in the first, but a balk call that scored Nelson Cruz from third base was reversed during a meeting of umpires. Tampa Bay starter Drew Smyly was initially ruled to have balked, but umpires decided that his move came after Rays C Curt Casali had been granted a timeout . . The Rays were without 2B Logan Forsythe, who is nursing a bruised shoulder blade after being hit by a Felix Hernandez pitch Monday . . . Hernandez and the Mariners’ other starting pitchers took batting practice before Tuesday’s game. Seattle has its first road series in a National League park next week in Cincinnati.
Next
RHP Taijuan Walker (2-2, 1.97 ERA) is expected back on the mound after an aborted start last time out. A stiff neck caused Walker to come out after just two innings Friday in Houston. He will pitch Wednesday’s 12:40 p.m. game against the Rays. Tampa Bay ace Chris Archer (2-4, 4.23 ERA) will counter.