Kade Anderson Exits Early as Mariners Beat Angels 8-4
Seattle got back to its winning ways in the penultimate game of the season, beating the rival Angels 8-4. The pitching was strong, and the offense was even stronger to secure the win.
Coming off a career performance in Colorado, rookie Kade Anderson looked to finish his first major league season strong. He got off to a fast start but was forced to exit the game early due to injury.
The offense continued to show what could have been this season, scoring eight runs on a remarkable 12 hits and six walks. It served as another reminder that if the lineup had heated up earlier in the year, Seattle’s season might not be ending Sunday.
The ceremonial farewell weekend for legendary radio broadcaster Rick Rizzs continued as he threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the game. Seattle sent its longtime voice off into the sunset with a triumphant win.
Here are some takeaways from Saturday night’s victory:
Strong Start Spoiled by Injury
Anderson started his day by inducing weak contact on two ground balls while locating all of his pitches well.
Seattle deployed a unique defensive lineup Saturday, with its usual center fielder getting the day off. With Julio Rodríguez out of the lineup, Randy Arozarena started in his place.
The first ball hit his way did not go well. The third batter of the game lifted a soft popup that required Arozarena to charge in from center field. That might sound simple, but he made it look difficult.
Lacking a sense of urgency, Arozarena jogged in and watched the ball drop just feet in front of him and off the glove of a backpedaling Cole Young. It was a play Arozarena appeared capable of making but failed to take control of.
The second inning featured an even better performance from Anderson. He retired all three Angels hitters on eight pitches, inducing two weak groundouts and recording a three-pitch strikeout.
Anderson continued to pile up strikeouts in the third, recording all three outs via the punchout. He ended the inning by striking out Vaughn Grissom on a nasty back-foot slider.
He recorded one more out in the fourth before second baseman Christian Moore hit a screaming line drive that struck Anderson on his left elbow. With nothing at stake in the game, Seattle quickly removed him and brought in middle reliever Michael Rucker.
Anderson’s final line saw him cover 3 1/3 innings, allowing five baserunners and no runs while striking out four.
Fortunately for Seattle, Anderson was diagnosed with only a left forearm bruise.
“It got me pretty good,” Anderson said. “It’s not a great feeling by any means.”
Offense Shines Again
After getting the previous night off, J.P. Crawford did what he has done best as Seattle’s leadoff hitter, stroking a single to right field to begin the game with a baserunner.
While the Mariners did not score in the inning, it was a sign of things to come.
Following a Josh Naylor lineout, Young showed off his trademark plate discipline in the second by working a walk. Michael Arroyo then smoked a single to center field but was one-upped by his fellow rookie.
Left-handed slugger Lazaro Montes roped a ball down the right-field line for a ground-rule double, scoring Young.
The scoring did not resume until the fourth, when Young led off with a walk and Arroyo deposited a sweeper into left field for a single. Montes then lifted a ball deep to right field that ultimately fell short of becoming a loud three-run homer.
His fly ball did move Young to third, however, setting up Leo Rivas to drive him home with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Arozarena led off the fifth by legging out an infield single, extending his on-base streak to 24 games. Dominic Canzone then turned on a cutter low and inside, sending it down the right-field line for double No. 28 on the season.
With runners on second and third, Naylor hit a grounder to first base. Arozarena had taken off on contact and used his speed to race home and slide under the tag in an exciting play at the plate. Young then delivered another hit with runners in scoring position, scoring Canzone and pushing Naylor to third.
With two outs and two runners still on, Montes began to garner some respect around the league as the Angels intentionally walked him to load the bases. Seattle was unable to capitalize, leaving the bases loaded to end the threat.
As he has throughout the season, Arozarena shined offensively Saturday. He started the sixth by lacing a double down the left-field line before stealing third base for stolen base No. 26 on the year. His teammates could not pick him up, stranding him 90 feet from home.
Jammed up and in, Young was able to take a 91.0 mph fastball and drop it into center field to lead off the seventh. Arroyo followed with another single, continuing to punish cutters in the zone throughout the night.
A wild pitch moved the runners into scoring position before trade-deadline acquisition Taylor Ward brought them home with a sharp line drive to center.
Not to be outdone, Crawford sent the first pitch he saw, a fastball down in the zone, over the fence for a 403-foot home run, his 14th of the season.
The blast pushed Seattle’s lead to 8-4 and effectively put the game out of reach for the Angels.
Crawford received a standing ovation as chants of “J.P.!” filled T-Mobile Park following the blast. With his future in Seattle uncertain, the moment clearly meant something to the veteran shortstop.
“It meant everything,” Crawford said. “Bittersweet for sure.”
Tankathon
The Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets both won Saturday, keeping pace with the Mariners in the race for the fifth-best odds in the MLB Draft lottery.
All three teams head into Sunday’s finale within a game of one another. Should the Reds and Mets both win again while the M’s lose, Seattle would secure the fifth-best odds of landing the No. 1 overall pick.
On Deck
Resident ace Logan Gilbert will take the mound in the season finale to face former Mariners All-Star Yusei Kikuchi.
Both teams will look to end forgettable seasons on a high note by defeating a division rival.
