[ad_1]
The Seattle Mariners finally got a look at their new game on Wednesday afternoon. Right-hander Luis Castillo, was acquired by the Cincinnati Reds on Friday, made his Mariners debut at Yankee Stadium and couldn’t have made a better first impression. Castillo held the New York Yankees to three runs in 6 2/3 innings, striking out eight in a relatively easy win (SEA 7, NYY 3).
Three runs in 6 2/3 innings is more than impressive, though Castillo held the Yankees to one run before surrendering a two-run home run to Kyle Higashioka, the last batter he faced. Seattle led 7-1 at that point and the game was already well in hand. Castillo had retired 14 of the previous 17 batters he faced before the garbage time, destroying homer.
Seattle paid a heavy price to get Castillo — Noelvi Marte and Edwin Arroyo, as well as two other top-50 consensus prospects — and it was for games like Wednesday’s to match the ace of another prospect . The Mariners haven’t been to the postseason in a generation, not since Ichiro Suzuki’s rookie year in 2001, and the Castillo trade was an all-in move to get past Seattle.
“You’re coming to a team that’s so close to making the postseason.” Castillo told MLB.com after joining the Mariners earlier this week. “And all that’s left is for him to continue to do what the team has been doing and work hard.”
Castillo’s Mariners debut was impressive, but Castillo’s good showing is no surprise. What’s shocking is that Seattle ambushes Yankees ace Gerrit Cole in the first inning, picking him off for six runs on three homers. It’s the most runs Cole has given up in a single inning in his career. surpassing the five runs he allowed in the first inning against the Twins on June 9.
Wednesday marked the third time Cole has allowed at least five runs in his last six starts, after doing so just twice in his first 16 starts. He has given up 15 home runs in his last 11 starts after allowing six home runs in his first 11 starts. Cole settled down and went six innings to save the bullpen, but his recent skid gives him a good but not very ace 3.56 ERA on the season.
Wednesday’s win improved the Mariners to 57-49 on the season. They currently sit in the second wild card spot in the American League, a half game back of the Tampa Bay Rays and 1 1/2 games back of the Cleveland Guardians for a postseason berth. The Yankees fell to 70-36 with Wednesday’s loss and still have the league’s best record.
[ad_2]
Source link
