The Mariners returned home Friday night after a disastrous 1-5 road trip. The teams only victory in the five-game road trip was a win over the Los Angeles in what seemed like a century ago. While it wasn’t a century since their last win, it was s just even days, but four consecutive losses on the road seemed like eternity. The team had a much-needed day off on Thursday.
“ The off day was great because it kind of gave us a chance to reset, obviously, coming off of a tough road trip. And then to be able to come back today was good for us said, Randy Arozarena. “ The Ichiro celebration was very exciting, and he’s a great human. He is a legend in baseball, and just the excitement and positive energy coming off the off day and leading into the rest of the game was great for us.”
Arozarena went 2-for-3, was hit by a pitch, collected 3 RBI, and hit his first home run of the season.
RUNNERS ON THE BASE PATHS EARLY SET THE TONE
Friday afternoon, the team unveiled the Ichiro Suzuki statue hours before the game. The ceremony honoring one of the club’s legends had a positive effect on the team. A focused, relaxed, and determined Mariner team jumped on Houston Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai. J.P. Crawford was inserted into the lead-off spot for Brendan Donovan, who missed the game due to an undisclosed sickness.
Crawford drew a walk, and Cal Raleigh followed him straight to first base. Julio Rodriguez reached first on a single to shortstop, which loaded the bases. A wild pitch by Tatsuya scored Crawford. Josh Naylor drew another walk, and Tatsuya was on the ropes, with the Mariners threatening to blow the game wide open. The Mariners doubled their lead when Tatsuya hit Randy Arozarena, and the Astros ’ bullpen went into scramble mode. Luke Raley grounded out to second but still managed to bring home Rodriguez for the 3-0 lead.
ASTROS ANSWER
The Astros rolled into T- Mobile Park, leading the league in hits (122), runs ( 78), and runs batted in ( 72). In the top of the second inning, the Astros unleashed their offensive firepower with three runs. A Walk by Christian Walker started the Astros’ comeback, and Christian Vazquez’s three-run double inflicted the damage.
Hancock was able to settle down the rest of the way, allowing just one hit and one walk in his next three innings.
MARINERS EXTEND LEAD
With Hancock putting forth a yeoman effort, the Mariners tacked on two more runs in the fifth inning on Arozarena ‘s two-run homer after a Josh Naylor walk. The game looked like it was out of reach when the Mariners tacked on four more runs in the 7th inning on a single by J.P. Crawford, a double by Dominic Canzone, and a Raleigh ground out that scored Leo Rivas for a 9-3 lead.
ASTROS MAKE ONE LAST RUN
Similar to the second inning, the Astros fought back and made a game of it on Yordan Alvarez’s three-run homer in the top of the eighth inning and quieted the 44, 468 fans who were making celebratory post-game plans. A quick bottom frame by the Mariners saw the Astros back at the plate, looking to make one more comeback. The Astros’ plans never came to fruition as Anthony Munoz shut down the Astros to earn his first win of the season.
GAME NOTES
MARINERS NOTES:
• The Mariners earn a 9-6 win in the first game of the 4-game series against the Astros…this marks Seattle’s 4th consecutive win against Houston (9/19/25-c)…this marks the 5th 4-game win streak against the Astros in Marinershistory.
o Each of the Mariners’ 9 hitters scored 1 run, marking only the 2nd time in franchise history that the team’s9 starters have each scored a run in the same game (also: 6/18/99 at CLE)…that game also saw each of the nine starters score exactly 1 run.
o The Mariners scored 3 runs in the 1st inning…coming into today’s game they had scored 3 first inning runs this season.
o Mariners hitters walked 10 times in tonight’s game, the first time they have drawn double-digit walks since April 21, 2022 vs. TEX (10)… this is the 4th time in 2026 they have walked 7 plus times in a game…is tied for the most in 2026 with the Brewers and the Yankees.
o The Mariners turned 4 double plays in tonight’s game, the first time they have had 4+ double plays sinceJune 17, 2023 vs. CWS.
• Emerson Hancock finished 5.0 innings of work with 3 runs (3 ER), 2 walks, 4 hits, and 5 strikeouts…after allowing all 3 runs in the 2nd inning, he only allowed 1 hit and 1 walk while facing the minimum through the last 3.0 frames. Recorded a career high 12 swings-and-misses.
• Randy Arozarena went 2-for-3 with a HBP, 3 RBI and his first home run of the season…this is his 5th game reaching base 3+ times, tied for 2nd most in MLB, trailing only Yordan Alvarez-HOU (7 G).
o Forced in a run on a bases loaded HBP in the first inning…this is his third HBP of the season, making him 1-of-5 players to have been hit by a pitch 3+ times so far in 2026…since he joined the Mariners on July 26, 2024, he has 41 HBP, which leads MLB and is 10 more than the next closest player (Willson Contreras-STL/BOS, 31 HBP).
• J.P Crawford scored the first run of the game on a wild pitch after reaching base on a lead-off walk in the first inning…this is his first time batting lead-off this season…he finished the game reaching base safely 3 times on 2 walks and a hit, recording an RBI and a run scored.
• Julio Rodriguez recorded a single in his first at-bat of the game…he has reached base safely in 7 consecutive games (4/3-c)
• Dominic Canzone swatted a double in the 7th inning to drive in Luke Raley.
• Cole Young continues his hot start to the season, going 1-for-3 with a run scored, an RBI, and 2 walks…he is slashing .265/.333/.469 to start the season…has logged a hit in 11-of-14 games played this season.
• Mariners bullpen (Gabe Speier, Eduard Bazardo, Cole Wilcox, Matt Brash and A
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