After a winter of uncertainty, Jorge Polanco had an Opening Day to remember.
Polanco went 3-for-3 with a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth inning as the Seattle Mariners defeated the visiting Athletics 4-2 on Thursday.
The teams are scheduled to continue their four-game series Friday night, with A’s left-hander Jeffrey Springs (2-2, 3.27 ERA in 2024) set to take the mound against Mariners righty Luis Castillo (11-12, 3.64).
Polanco, who spent his first 10 seasons with Minnesota, was acquired by the Mariners on Jan. 29, 2024, for four players and cash.
The former All-Star middle infielder batted a career-low .213 with 16 homers and 45 RBIs for Seattle last season and had a $12 million option declined. Not only that, but he underwent offseason knee surgery.
Polanco discussed jobs over the winter with American League West rivals Houston and the Los Angeles Angels but re-signed with the Mariners on Feb. 3, getting a one-year, $7.75 million deal to play third base for a team that finished one game shy of a playoff berth in 2024.
“It was the players here, they are really good,” Polanco told The Seattle Times. “The chemistry we built by the end of last season was really good. I wanted to come back here. I know we’ve got a chance. I know the kind of players we have. I know these guys are hungry. They have a lot of talent. I just wanted to be back here. I’m trying to win again. I’m trying to accomplish that goal of making the playoffs.”
The Mariners seemed destined to suffer the same fate that befell them so many times last season — getting great starting pitching and not enough offense — until Randy Arozarena hit a tying homer with one out in the eighth inning off A’s reliever Jose Leclerc. After a walk to Luke Raley, Polanco went deep to center to make the score 4-2.
“He had a really good spring training, and the at-bats kept getting better and better,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said of Polanco. “Having him healthy and able to drive in some runs is big for us in the middle of the lineup.”
Both of the Athletics’ runs came on solo homers by Tyler Soderstrom.
“We’ve struggled a little bit with their pitching staff,” A”s manager Mark Kotsay said. “We just couldn’t string (hits) together.”
Friday’s game will feature a pair of pitchers involved in offseason trade talks.
The A’s acquired Springs from Tampa Bay, while the Mariners decided to hold on to Castillo.
After a breakout 2022 in which he went 9-5 with a 2.46 ERA, Springs made just 10 starts over the past two seasons with the Rays because of a tear in his ulnar collateral ligament that required Tommy John surgery.
“It was extremely frustrating. Tampa blessed me with a great (contract) extension, and I felt like I let them down,” Springs said. “That was the hardest part.”
Several teams approached the Mariners about Castillo, but president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said it was “Plan Z” to break up their rotation.
Castillo said he was pleased to stay in Seattle.
“I’m 100 percent happy,” he said. “The talent we have in this rotation … it’s my third year here. Once you’re here this long, you kind of call it a family. I’m happy that I’m here.”
In his career, Springs is 1-0 with an ERA of 2.89 in 10 appearances against the Mariners.
Castillo is 3-2 with a 3.24 ERA in seven starts against the Athletics.
–Field Level Media
