07/26/24 10:48:00
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07/26 22:47 CDT Rojas, Moore, Robles hit consecutive HRs in 1st, Mariners beat
White Sox 10-0
Rojas, Moore, Robles hit consecutive HRs in 1st, Mariners beat White Sox 10-0
By MATT CARLSON
Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) --- Josh Rojas, Dylan Moore and Victor Robles hit consecutive
homers in Seattle's eight-run first inning and the Mariners beat the Chicago
White Sox 10-0 on Friday night to end a three-game slide.
George Kirby pitched seven strong innings and Jorge Polanco added a two-run
drive in the fourth as Seattle won for just the second time in 10 games and
handed the major-league worst White Sox their 12th straight loss. Chicago was
also shut out for the 13th time this season.
The Mariners remained one game behind first-place Houston in the AL West after
once having a 10-game lead in the division.
Seattle hadn't gone deep back-to-back this season until they teed off against
Chicago rookie Drew Thorpe, scoring all eight runs against the right-hander
with two outs. The Mariners last hit three straight homers on June 21, 2022, at
Oakland.
"A great game for our offense tonight," Seattle manager Scott Servais said. "We
had been struggling in the worst way. I'm really happy for our guys to jump out
like we did today."
The Mariners entered having scored two runs or fewer in seven of their previous
eight games, but didn't wait for the arrival of All-Star outfielder Randy
Arozarena to kick-start their offense. Arozarena was added via trade from Tampa
Bay late on Thursday and reliever Yimi Garca was acquired from Toronto on
Friday. Both are expected to join the Mariners on Saturday.
"We have to keep it going, certainly with all the action today, all the
transactions," Servais said. "You know it does spark some things once and a
while in guys and hopefully it continues tomorrow when these players show up."
Kirby (8-7) allowed six hits, struck out seven and walked one in coasting to
his first win in a month despite nine straight quality starts. The right-hander
had all the runs he needed before he took the mound.
"Yeah, that was awesome," Kirby said. "I was sitting in the tunnel with a big
smile on my face. You've just got to stay locked in with the eight-run lead and
can't take anyone lightly."
Mitch Garver, batting .177, reached base five times with three hits and two
walks.
The Mariners already led 3-0 when Rojas connected for a three-run drive into
the right-field bullpen off Thorpe's center-cut fastball. Moore and Robles
followed with solo shots to chase the 23-year-old from his eighth major league
start.
The Mariners were waiting on Thorpe's fastball and didn't miss.
"That was the goal, to be on the heater," Rojas said. "We know he has a really
good changeup and that was going to be his pitch. So if we could get him up off
the bottom of the zone and hung a fastball, we'd be in a pretty good spot."
Jason Vosler got the rally started with a two-run single. Garver followed with
an RBI double.
The White Sox (27-79) have lost 18 of 21 and are 52 or more games under .500
for the first time they were 49-102 in 1932. Chicago has matched the 1962 Mets
for the worst record through 106 games and is on pace to equal the expansion
New York club for 120 losses, the most since the 19th century.
Tommy Pham had three of Chicago's seven hits.
Thorpe (3-2), acquired in a trade that sent Dylan Cease to San Diego, entered
with a 3.03 ERA. The 6-foot-4 righty had allowed five runs over 30 1/3 innings
in his previous five outings for a 1.48 ERA over the span.
In this one, Thorpe allowed eight runs and six hits, walking two while getting
only two outs.
"He gave up five hits in a row on five fastballs,' Chicago manager Pedro Grifol
said. "That's basically not his game. His game is mixing it up."
ADDED DEAL
Seattle also dealt RHP Ryne Stanek to the Mets for minor league outfielder
Rhylan Thomas on Friday.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Mariners: RHP Gregory Santos, who suffered a knee injury on Wednesday, had an
MRI "that came back OK," and he could be available for Saturday's game, manager
Scott Servais said.
UP NEXT
Mariners RHP Bryan Woo (4-1, 2.54) takes the mound against White Sox RHP Erick
Fedde (7-3, 2.98) on Saturday night.
___
AP MLB: https://www.apnews.com/hub/MLB
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