Rowdy Tellez's pinch-hit single helps Mariners extend winning streak

Adam Jude, The Seattle Times on May 3, 2025

Published in Baseball

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ARLINGTON, Texas — Rowdy Tellez’s pinch-hit single drove in Jorge Polanco for the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning, and the Seattle Mariners won their sixth straight game with a 2-1 victory over the Texas Rangers on Saturday.

Andrés Muñoz closed it out in the bottom of the ninth. He’s 12 for 12 in save opportunities and hasn’t allowed a run in 16 appearances this season.

J.P. Crawford homered on the first pitch of the game from Rangers left-hander Patrick Corbin, but the Mariners offense got nothing else going until the ninth.

Polanco led off the ninth with a wild pinch-hit double off Rangers reliever Chris Martin on a ball he scorched at 110.5 mph.

Rangers right fielder Adolis Garcia made a diving attempt but the ball bounced out of his glove, and Polanco audaciously hustled to second, diving in safely ahead of the throw from Garcia, who has one of baseball’s best outfield arms.

Rookie Ben Williamson, after failing to get down a bunt, punched a soft ground-ball to the right side to move Polanco to third base with one out.

Tellez followed with a two-strike single on a line to drive in Polanco for the winning run.

The switch-hitting Polanco, one of MLB’s hottest hitters, was out of the starting lineup again against a left-handed starting pitcher. Polanco has not been comfortable swinging with full intent from the right side because of a mild oblique strain from early April.

Luis Castillo pitched his second straight gem, allowing one run on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts in six innings.

Mariners reliever Matt Brash made his first appearance since having elbow reconstruction surgery 360 days earlier. Brash pitched a scoreless seventh inning, allowing a soft single, with one strikeout and getting an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.

With the scored tied 1-1, Julio Rodriguez made a great running catch in center field, on a ball Corey Seager smoked at 112 mph with the potential go-ahead run at first base. That ended a scoreless outing for M’s reliever Gabe Speier.

The Mariners (20-12) have won eight consecutive series, and they’ll try for their second series sweep of the Rangers on Sunday. Rookie right-hander Logan Evans is scheduled to make his second start for the Mariners, opposite two-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom.

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