After Mitch Garver's 12th-inning HR sealed a 6-4 win vs the Rangers, the Mariners host the Royals on June 30. Can they overcome fatigue and injuries?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
What a weekend. After a grueling, heart-pounding series against the Texas Rangers where every single game went to extra innings, the Seattle Mariners are back home tonight to host the Kansas City Royals. Fresh off Mitch Garver's heroic 12th-inning, two-run blast on Sunday to seal a 6-4 victory and a wild series win, the M's have proven they have an endless supply of grit. The question now is how much gas is left in the tank.
The Mariners are now 6-7 in extra-inning games, battling through more extended contests than nearly any other team in Major League Baseball.
You can't make this stuff up. Three games against a division rival, three trips to extra innings. Sunday's finale was the exclamation point, with Mitch Garver driving in four of the team's six runs, including the game-winning homer. Donovan Solano also played a crucial role, delivering key RBIs that kept the Mariners alive. Winning a series like that builds character, but it also takes a physical toll. The team will need to reset quickly as they prepare for a fresh challenge against the visiting Kansas City Royals later today.
The team's resilience is being tested not just by long games, but by a lengthy injury list. The pitching staff is still without RHP Bryce Miller, who recently received a PRP injection for elbow inflammation and isn't expected back until after the All-Star break. He's joined on the IL by RHP Collin Snider (forearm strain, targeting July return) and RF Victor Robles (shoulder, likely out until September). The constant need for reinforcements led to the recent call-up of RHP Juan Burgos from Tacoma, a move made possible by designating RHP Zach Pop for assignment. These moves are a direct reflection of the front office scrambling to keep the bullpen fresh amidst the injuries.
While the big-league club patches holes, the future continues to shine brightly down on the farm. No. 2 prospect Lazaro Montes just launched his Minor League-leading 21st home run of the season over the weekend. His immense power is a tantalizing glimpse of what's to come, providing a welcome dose of optimism for a fanbase watching the current roster grind through a tough stretch. Montes's development is a critical storyline, reminding everyone that even more firepower is on the way.
The Mariners have proven they can win ugly, gritty games. Now, they face a new test in the Royals. Tonight's game will be a crucial indicator of whether the momentum from this weekend's marathon series is sustainable as the team limps, but fights, toward the All-Star break.
