September 14, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez (44) hits a single in the first inning against the Texas Rangers at T-Mobile Field Celebrating after a base hit. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images Decades ago, Nike produced a TV commercial for Air Jordans in which the fictional character Mars Blackmon, played by Spike Lee, made a reference to NBA superstar Michael Jordan. )'s performance, he exclaimed, “It must be a problem with the shoes.”
For the Seattle Mariners, it has to be the uniforms.
After rallying for victory in Nike City Connect uniforms the past two nights, the M's will once again don their blue jerseys and black pants when they wrap up a four-game series with the visiting Texas Rangers on Sunday afternoon.
“I mean, we have to do it, don't we?” Mariners head coach Dan Wilson said of being in uniform. “we have to.”
The Mariners usually only wear their City Connects jerseys on Friday nights. The jersey features an inverted trident on the cap, similar to the team's original logo, “Seattle” on the front in a font similar to that used by the Seattle Pilots in 1969, and black pants in honor of the Negro League's Seattle Steelheads. .
After Friday's 5-4 comeback victory, Julio Rodriguez hit a three-run homer to the second level in left field with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Play, the Mariners did the same thing Saturday.
Rodriguez again advanced deep into the second when Randy Arozarena singled to load the bases in the bottom of the ninth for another 5-4 win.
That puts the Mariners (76-73) at 14-1 on the season while wearing those uniforms, and they're 2.5 points in the race for the American League's third and final wild-card playoff spot. games behind Minnesota.
Victor Robles hit a double to the left corner in Saturday's ninth inning and went on to steal third. Rodriguez and Carl Rowley walked to load the bases. After getting stuck in the infield, Arozarena hit an inside hit off diving shortstop Josh Smith to win the game.
Since joining the Mariners as a free agent on June 5, Robles has stolen bases 25 times and caught two, including 11 third-down steals.
“How much of their aggressive baserunning accounted for tonight? Yeah, we've got to do better,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “Yeah, it's a pitcher's issue. You know, move a little faster, watch them. We knew that in the game and it put us in a tough spot.”
Texas got two-run homers from Leddy Taveras and Marcus Semien, but that's the extent of its offense.
The Rangers plan to put left-hander Andrew Heaney (5-13, 3.84 ERA) on the mound against Mariners right-hander George Kirby (11-11, 3.77 ERA) in the series finale ).
Heaney faced Seattle 22 times in his career, with a 4-9 record and a 4.35 ERA, including 20 starts. He lost to the M's twice this season. On April 25, in Arlington, Texas, he allowed four runs on five hits in six innings, ultimately losing 4-3. On June 14 in Seattle, he allowed three runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings in a 3-2 loss.
Heaney faced the Los Angeles Angels last Sunday, winning 7-4 in six innings, snapping an eight-game winning streak.
On June 15, Kirby defeated the Rangers 7–5 in Seattle, allowing one run on three hits in six innings. In seven career starts against the Rangers, Kirby had a 1.08 ERA. Improved to 5 wins and 0 losses.
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