Teoscar Hernandez’s sacrifice fly in the eighth propelled the Seattle Mariners to a 6-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. Julio Rodriguez’s four hits, including a ninth-inning single, aided Seattle. Cal Raleigh contributed a home run and a double.
Seattle manager Scott Servais praised Rodriguez, highlighting his crucial ninth-inning single. Dylan Moore’s error-fueled eighth-inning run, brought in by Hernandez’s fly, proved pivotal. Luis Castillo pitched seven innings, allowing four runs, while Matt Brash earned the save despite conceding a ninth-inning homer by Nelson Velazquez.
Dylan Coleman (0-1) suffered the loss for Kansas City. James McArthur, starting for the Royals, gave up three runs in one inning. Rodriguez’s double initiated Seattle’s offensive surge, leading to a three-run advantage for Castillo before his first pitch.
Maikel Garcia extended his Royals rookie-record hitting streak to 18 games. The Mariners quickly responded to Royals’ runs. Rodriguez’s single brought home Jose Caballero, and Kyle Isbel’s sacrifice fly boosted Kansas City.
The Royals loaded the bases in the sixth but managed only one run. Transactions included Mariners’ C Tom Murphy’s placement on the IL and Royals’ RHP Nick Wittgren’s option to Triple-A Omaha. The Mariners and Royals conclude their series with a Thursday matinee, featuring RHP George Kirby for Seattle and LHP Angel Zerpa for Kansas City.
Zack Gelof’s four hits and Paul Blackburn’s seven scoreless innings led the Oakland Athletics to an 8-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night, ending a nine-game road losing streak and preventing a sweep.
Gelof, who emphasized consistency, secured his second four-hit game of the week, while Blackburn’s strong outing included six hits, eight strikeouts, and a walk.
The Athletics, with the worst MLB record at 34-87, halted the Cardinals’ three-game win streak. St. Louis, at 54-67, ranks last in the NL Central.
Cardinals starter Matthew Liberatore (2-5) yielded six runs, five earned, in 4 1/3 innings. The A’s capitalized in the first inning, with Carlos Pérez’s single, Jordan Diaz’s double, and Shea Langeliers’ RBI single producing a 4-0 lead.
Gelof’s RBI single in the fourth and a Seth Brown sacrifice fly in the fifth extended Oakland’s advantage. Gelof’s double in the sixth and Tyler Soderstrom’s pinch-hit home run in the ninth padded the score.
Injuries impacted the Cardinals, as centerfielder Lars Nootbaar and shortstop Tommy Edman exited the game.
The A’s executed precise relays to prevent runs. Alec Burleson, Tommy Edman, and Andrew Knizner combined to halt a run, while Ruiz, Allen, and Langeliers repeated the feat.
Roster moves involved the A’s recalling LHP Kyle Mueller and sending RHP Spenser Watkins to Triple-A Las Vegas.
In the injury department, OF JJ Bleday of the Athletics was placed on the IL, while the Cardinals’ RHP Ryan Helsley underwent a second MRI, INF Nolan Gorman missed games due to back tightness, and C Willson Contreras sat out with hip tightness.
Up next, the Athletics face the Baltimore Orioles, and the Cardinals take on the New York Mets, with RHP Adam Wainwright and LHP José Quintana as the starting pitchers, respectively.
The MLB scoreboard for Wednesday, August 16, 2023:
Tampa Bay 6, San Francisco 1
Cincinnati 7, Cleveland 2
Houston 12, Miami 5
Oakland 8, St. Louis 0
Washington 6, Boston 2
Philadelphia 9, Toronto 4
Atlanta 2, NY Yankees 0
Chicago Cubs 4, Chicago White Sox 3
San Diego 5, Baltimore 2
Detroit 8, Minnesota 7
LA Angels 2, Texas 0
Seattle 6, Kansas City 5
NY Mets 8, Pittsburgh 3
Arizona 9, Colorado 7
LA Dodgers 7, Milwaukee 1
