SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners enjoyed a dominant performance, routing the Miami Marlins 14-0 on Saturday night, with explosive contributions from Julio Rodriguez and Jorge Polanco who hit successive home runs right at the start. Both players made a significant impact in the Mariners’ first inning, igniting a surge that saw Seattle score six times.
Right-handed pitcher Luis Castillo was exceptional on the mound, improving his record to 3-2. Castillo was nearly untouchable, allowing only one hit over six innings while striking out five batters and issuing two walks, providing a rock-solid foundation for Seattle’s defense.
The night’s fireworks began when Rodriguez unleashed a powerful 417-foot home run off Connor Gillispie’s opening pitch, striking the foul pole in left field. Polanco followed suit, homering on the third pitch he faced. With Gillispie struggling, unable to quell the Mariners’ momentum, rookies Ben Williamson and Miles Mastrobuoni capitalized by each hitting two-run doubles, bringing the score to 6-0 early.
Seattle continued to extend their lead in the second inning through Luke Raley’s sacrifice fly. Gillispie’s night was brief and burdensome, as he exited after conceding seven runs on six hits over his two innings of work. Polanco later added his second home run of the contest, his seventh for the season, during a two-run fourth inning, where Rowdy Tellez was hit on the left hand with the bases loaded, making it 10-0.
Further contributions came in the sixth inning via Williams’ RBI single, followed by a two-run homer from pinch hitter Mitch Garver in the seventh. Mastrobuoni scored again with an RBI single in the eighth, resulting in another triumph for the Mariners.
This victory came on the heels of an injury announcement, as the Mariners placed their opening-day starter Logan Gilbert on the 15-day injured list due to a strained right elbow flexor. Gilbert had left Friday’s game after three innings despite having pitched hitless.
A notable highlight was that it marked only the third occurrence in Mariners’ history of hitting back-to-back home runs to kick off a game. At present, the Mariners have tallied 40 home runs, placing them in a tie for third in the major leagues, trailing only the Yankees with 41 and the Dodgers with 43.
Looking ahead, the Mariners are set to debut RHP Logan Evans, called up to their roster on Saturday and poised to make his major league debut in Sunday’s series finale. Meanwhile, the Marlins will counter with RHP Max Meyer, who holds a record of 2-2 with a 2.10 ERA.