Mariners Dominate Marlins 14-0 with Back-to-Back Homers and Stellar Pitching
The Seattle Mariners delivered a powerful 14-0 victory over the Miami Marlins on Saturday night, starting with a bang. Julio Rodríguez and Jorge Polanco hit back-to-back home runs to lead off the game, setting the stage for a dominant six-run first inning. Rodríguez crushed a 417-foot shot off the first pitch from Connor Gillispie, followed by Polanco’s homer on the third pitch, giving Seattle an early 2-0 lead.
Gillispie (0-3) struggled further, loading the bases with one out. Rookie Ben Williamson and Miles Mastrobuoni each hit two-run doubles to push the lead to 6-0. The Mariners kept the pressure on, with Luke Raley driving in another run with a sacrifice fly in the second.
On the mound, Luis Castillo (3-2) was in complete control, allowing just one hit over six innings. The right-hander struck out five and walked two, cruising through the Marlins’ lineup with ease and providing perfect support for his team’s offensive explosion.
Polanco added his second home run of the game in the fourth, a two-run blast that extended the lead to 8-0. Rowdy Tellez was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, bringing the score to 10-0. The Mariners kept piling on the runs: Williams added an RBI single in the sixth, Mitch Garver hit a two-run home run in the seventh, and Mastrobuoni capped the scoring with an RBI single in the eighth.
Defensively, the Mariners were sharp as well. J.P. Crawford made a diving stop in the fourth, flipping the ball out of his glove to Mastrobuoni, who turned a quick double play. The Mariners’ stellar play on both sides of the ball was a sight to behold.
Earlier in the day, Seattle placed Logan Gilbert on the 15-day injured list with a strained elbow flexor. Gilbert had exited Friday’s game early after three hitless innings. Despite the setback, the Mariners showed they could dominate without their ace.
With 39 home runs this season, the Mariners rank third in MLB, trailing only the Dodgers and Yankees. They will look to finish the series strong with Logan Evans making his MLB debut on Sunday against the Marlins’ Max Meyer.
Key Stat: The Mariners now have 39 home runs, ranking among the league’s best.