Mariners match longest win streak of year as they beat Angels 5-3

That’s now eight straight wins for the Mariners, as Bryan Woo sets a new career-high with 13 strikeouts on Saturday night versus the Angels.

The Seattle Mariners have the second-best home record in the AL this season, while Bryan Woo entered Saturday night with a 9-2 record in 13 starts at T-Mobile Park. As such, it was always going to be a good bet to pick the M’s to win versus the Los Angeles Angels, which they duly did 5-3.

This is not to imply it was an easy path to victory — it was far from it — but there’s usually a higher level of confidence when Woo is on the mound, especially at home. And on Saturday night he delivered, as he went six innings strong and in the process only allowed three hits, one walk and two earned runs.

Most impressive of all Woo threw a career-high 13 strikeouts, to easily surpass his previous best of nine. And what should really scare opponents is that a pitcher who is renowned for his fastball package, saw seven of his strikeouts come on his sweeper.

Postgame, the 2025 All-Star was asked if utilizing his sweeper more was in the gameplan, due to it evolving, or just something which he felt on the night? He said:

“I think it’s just been developing over time. It’s a huge confidence pitch for me and I think as long as I’ve got a good mindset with it, it can be as good as any. I’ve been doing some work throughout the week – just different thought processes and ways to go about it, but I just feel like it’s gotten better as times gone on.”

Bryan Woo happy to finally get over the hump

Woo was also asked what it means to set a career-high in strikeouts, especially so late in the season. He said:

“It means a lot. It’s one of those things you don’t shoot for, it’s just kind of a result of doing things the right way consistently over time. These types of games just kind of develop themselves if you do it enough, but it was nice to definitely get over the hump sitting at nine for so long and being able to get the 10th and then obviously getting to 13. I think I got nine in my third career game and then it took me three years to get over that, so it was definitely cool.”

Mariners manager Dan Wilson is used to Woo pitching well by now, but still never fails to be impressed by the righty. He said:

“Another great start for Bryan. Just to get us through that sixth inning, I thought the sixth inning was really impressive. The pitch count (was) getting a little higher, but he comes in there and just punches out the side and does what he does. That’s emptying the tank right there and just a huge performance for him.”

The only time Woo faced any trouble was in the top of the second, when the Angles tied the game with two runs. The Mariners had surged into an early lead in the bottom of the first thanks to Jorge Polanco’s two-RBI double, which extended his Major League-season high streak to six consecutive games with a double.

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Mariners retake the lead through a rejuvenated J.P. Crawford

The Mariners regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a solo home run by J.P. Crawford, to make it 3-2. It’s been a challenging season for Crawford, but he’s batting .316 with a .828 OPS in September and this is now the second time in his nine-year career he’s reached double figures in home runs.

Arguably the most crucial at-bat came one inning later, as Josh Naylor faced an epic 11-pitch encounter with Angels reliever Chase Silseth in a bases-loaded, one-out situation. Naylor was like a dog with a bone as he had eight straight foul-offs before hitting a two-RBI single which made it 5-2 to the M’s.

Wilson provided insight into what the Mariners were seeing as Naylor’s at-bat in the fifth progressed. He said:

“The more pitches you see the more confidence you grow as a hitter and he kept fouling them off (including) some tough ones. I think we knew at that point there was probably going to be a good outcome and just for him to get that ball through, those are two huge runs.”

After Woo left the game, Luke Jackson and Caleb Ferguson did their job in pitching one shutout inning each, before Matt Brash entered in the top of the ninth. Intially Brash looked shaky as he allowed a leadoff solo blast and a single, but subsequently got the three required outs to secure his fourth save of the season.

Mariners fans should be proud of the part they play at T-Mobile Park

One of the main reasons for the Mariners’ tremendous home record is their fans and what they bring, with it being no different on Saturday night from the 38,962 in attendance at T-Mobile Park. Woo was full of praise for the fanbase, as he said:

“Obviously we hope for a good crowd with it being a division game and the weekend, but it was unbelievable tonight. From the time I walked out of the bullpen before the game, I could tell it was going to be different from the first inning to the last. It was a playoff atmosphere. I know we’ve said it so much, but the fans and playing at home are such a big part of what we do and playing well at home coming off a couple of struggling road trips and being able to reset coming back home, I think is important. The fans and everything they bring are a huge part of that.”

With the win the Mariners improve to 81-68 and remain tied with the Houston Astros at the top of the AL West. As mentioned before though, the M’s must watch out for the Texas Rangers, who also won on Saturday and stay just two games back.

As such it’s important for the Mariners to continue winning, and they will send George Kirby to the mound on Sunday afternoon as they look to sweep the Angels ahead of their season-defining final road trip. Wilson knows what’s at stake, but can also sense the positive vibes as he said:

“The guys keep rolling, they keep fighting. This has been a good homestand clearly and nice to win this series. We’ve got to come out tomorrow and continue to play well and get the sweep. I love the energy in the ball park tonight. A great crowd. It’s really beginning to feel like fall baseball. It’s exciting and (we have to) keep the momentum going.”

Photos court​‌esy of Tim Rodgers Photography

No matter how well the Mariners have played of late, their season is setting up to be decided on the road. How confident do you feel ahead of the two three-game series in Kansas City and Houston? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.