SEATTLE – The energy that Josh Naylor has injected into the Seattle Mariners in the last two months was key to their recent success. With a three-run double in the eighth inning on Tuesday night, Naylor drove in a 4-3 comeback victory over the Colorado Rockies, securing the Mariners’ return to the postseason and putting them on the verge of the division title.The last time the Mariners won the American League West was in 2001, a year marked by 116 regular season wins. That situation could change on Wednesday, depending on the results of the remaining games.After securing their spot in the postseason for the first time since 2022, the Mariners celebrated and hope to achieve new goals.
“We want to win everything, and a big championship at the end,” Naylor declared, while celebrating with a cigar in the middle of the locker room party. “With a big parade through the city.”
Josh NaylorSeattle is the only MLB city that has yet to host a World Series game, but this year’s team generates hope for October.The victory on Tuesday was the fifth in a row and the fifteenth in 16 games, after a difficult period. This performance follows a resounding sweep in Houston, where the Mariners were never behind. Now, the team believes that the best is yet to come.The Mariners’ stellar rotation, despite Bryan Woo’s injury, is dominating as expected at the start of the season. Their lineup, reinforced by the additions of Naylor and Eugenio Suárez, is producing results. In addition, their bullpen looks formidable. In a year with weaknesses in practically all teams, the Mariners are shaping up to be one of the most complete.
“There’s a lot of work to be done, starting with the division,” said Dan Wilson, the veteran catcher for the Mariners and team manager. “We hope to achieve it soon and move forward. This team is ready and prepared.”
Dan WilsonIn 2022, the Mariners won 90 games and made the playoffs, ending a 21-year drought. However, they were eliminated in the Division Series. In 2023, they were out in September and in 2024, they lost a 10-game lead in the division.
“These last two years have been very long,” said Cal Raleigh, Mariners catcher. “Not returning, it’s been painful. A lot of pain.”
Cal Raleigh
Some players believe that fight served to strengthen the team.
“Those years served to strengthen us,” said Julio Rodríguez, center fielder for the Mariners. “To put us in a better position. To grow.”
Julio Rodriguez
Raleigh at one point embraced Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto, lamenting the team’s poor performance through eight innings, but then shifted focus: “We’re going to win the World Series,” Raleigh recalled having said.“Queremos ganar todo, y un gran campeonato al final”, dijo Josh Naylor mientras los Marineros celebraban su primer puesto en la postemporada desde 2022. “Con un gran desfile por la ciudad.” Steph Chambers/Getty ImagesDuring seven innings, the Mariners’ offense struggled against the Rockies’ pitching staff, which has the highest earned run average in the league. They were losing 3-1 at the start of the eighth, but Rockies reliever Juan Mejía started the inning by hitting Luke Raley. J.P. Crawford received a walk, but Randy Arozarena and Raleigh struck out. Rodríguez then got hit by a pitch on the left elbow, loading the bases.Three pitches later, Naylor, who has batted .292/.333/.486 since arriving from the Arizona Diamondbacks, connected on a 2-0 count pitch, sending the ball to center-left field, scoring Rodríguez from first base.
“It felt like two seconds,” Rodriguez said. “As soon as I saw him hit the ball, I started running.”
Julio Rodriguez
Andrés Muñoz, the Mariners’ closer, completed the ninth inning, unleashing joy at T-Mobile Park, with an attendance of 35,925 fans. The Mariners improved their record to 49-27 at home. Their lead over the Astros extended to four games with five remaining. The lead over the Cleveland Guardians and the Detroit Tigers, tied in the AL Central, is three games for a direct pass to the first round.It’s been almost a quarter of a century since the Mariners won a home playoff game.They want to win as many as they can this year.
“We want to play at home,” Rodriguez said. “I don’t want to leave my neighborhood to play.”
