SEATTLE — Kyle Seager got Seattle started with a solo home run, and Robinson Cano added a two-run shot, and the Mariners continued their surge at home with a 7-6 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night.
The Mariners won their seventh straight at Safeco Field, ignited by Seager’s 23rd home run of the season and Cano’s 28th.
Adam Lind added a solo home run in the eighth inning and Seattle also got RBI hits from Stefan Romero, Nelson Cruz and Ketel Marte as it pulled within two games of Baltimore for the second wild card in the American League.
Ryan Braun had a two-out, two-run single in the ninth off Seattle closer Edwin Diaz to pull the Brewers within 7-6 after Diaz walked the bases loaded. But Diaz struck out Hernan Perez to close out his ninth save with the tying run at third.
Chris Carter hit the longest recorded home run in Safeco Field history, estimated at 465 feet after hitting the batting backdrop in centre field for the first of Milwaukee’s three home runs. Jonathan Villar and Keon Broxton added back-to-back homers off Seattle starter Wade LeBlanc leading off the sixth inning.
LeBlanc (3-0) was able to limit the damage to those three solo homers, although he lasted just 5 1/3 innings and added stress to Seattle’s bullpen.
Brent Suter (0-1) made his major league debut for Milwaukee but was unable to make it out of the fifth inning, giving up four runs and seven hits.
Suter became the first left-handed pitcher to start a game for the Brewers since Aug. 23, 2013. Milwaukee had used just right-handers in its starting rotation for nearly three calendar years — a span of 474 games. Suter snapped the second-longest streak in major league history of right-handed starters. The longest streak still belongs to the Dodgers, who used just right-handed starters for 681 straight games from 1992-97.
For the first three innings, Suter was just fine. Aside from three walks, he didn’t allow a hit through the first 10 outs. Seager ended that streak with a long home run to right field. Suter was unable to make it out of the fifth inning, giving up Cano’s two-run shot and Romero’s base hit before being lifted.
Seattle also took advantage of three Milwaukee errors. Marte reached on shortstop Orlando Arcia’s throwing error leading off the sixth and scored when left fielder Jake Elmore couldn’t hold on to Cruz’s sinking line drive. Elmore initially made the catch but lost the ball as he hit the ground.
Carter’s home run was his 28th of the year and according to Mariners records was 3 feet longer than Mark Teixeira’s 462-foot home run in 2007.
ROSTER SHUFFLE
Brewers: Along with bringing up Suter to make the start, Milwaukee also optioned RHP Damien Magnifico to Triple-A Colorado Springs, designated OF Ramon Flores for assignment and reinstated OF Domingo Santana from the 15-day DL.
Mariners: Seattle optioned slumping slugger Dae-Ho Lee to Triple-A Tacoma, along with RHP Joe Wieland. Romero was recalled from Tacoma and RHP Steve Cishek was activated from the 15-day DL.
UP NEXT
Brewers: Wily Peralta (5-8) goes for his second straight victory. Peralta allowed one run in six innings in his last start against Cincinnati.
Mariners: Felix Hernandez (7-4) looks for his fourth win since being activated off the DL on July 20. Hernandez allowed two runs over 6 2/3 innings in a victory over the Angels in his last start.
