Enrique Hernandez hit a two-run homer as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the host Seattle Mariners 3-2 Friday night in a matchup of West Division champions.
Left-hander Justin Wrobleski (5-5) pitched two scoreless innings of relief, striking out three, to earn the victory as the Dodgers (91-69), who clinched the NL West title a day earlier, won their third straight game and seventh in their past nine.
Dodgers closer Tanner Scott got his 23rd save of the season despite a hairy ninth inning. With two outs, Cal Raleigh doubled into the left field corner and Julio Rodriguez was intentionally walked. Scott hit Mitch Garver with a pitch to load the bases before striking out Eugenio Suarez to end the game.
The Mariners (90-70), who clinched the American League West on Wednesday, had a seven-game winning streak snapped and lost for just the second time in their past 19 games. Seattle also had a streak of 11 straight home wins come to an end. The run matched the franchise record set in 2001.
Mariners starter George Kirby (10-8) took the loss despite surrendering just two runs on three hits over five innings. The right-hander walked one and struck out 10.
The Mariners took the lead in the first inning as the Dodgers seemed to be dealing with a collective hangover.
Randy Arozarena led off with an infield single and advanced to second on a wild pitch by Emmet Sheehan. With one out, Rodriguez hit a 114.9 mph liner that left fielder Michael Conforto misplayed into a two-base error, allowing Arozarena to score. Sheehan committed an error on a pickoff attempt before striking out Josh Naylor and Suarez to get out of the inning.
Kirby cruised through the first two innings before Dalton Rushing beat out an infield single leading off the third. Hernandez then deposited a 3-1 sinker into the Dodgers’ bullpen in left field.
The Mariners threatened in the bottom of the inning as Raleigh led off with a single to left and took third on Naylor’s one-out single to right. Naylor stole second before Suarez hit a deep fly to center fielder Andy Pages. Both runners tagged on the play, with Naylor thrown out at third just before Raleigh crossed the plate to negate the run.
The Dodgers extended their lead to 3-1 in the sixth as Conforto drew a leadoff walk off Eduard Bazardo and Teoscar Hernandez singled to right. With two outs, Rushing grounded an RBI single to right.
The Mariners got that run back in the eighth. Rodriguez led off with a walk before being erased on a fielder’s choice. With two outs, Luke Raley reached on an infield single before Dominic Canzone lined an RBI single to right.
–Field Level Media
