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Mariners finally backed their ace Brian Wu with some real pop, dropping the Rangers 5-2 Sunday to clinch the series. Wu crews 7 innings, allowing just 2 runs on 85 pitches, while Rob Refnider, J.P. Crawford, and Randy Arrows Arena all went D4, the first Mariners home run hat-trick since opening day. Earlier this week, Wu flirted with the Maddox, that rare complete game shutout under 100 pitches, staying dominant until a leadoff walk 2.
Corey Seager sparked the Rangers' only rally in the 7th. Relievers Gage Spire and Andres Munoz then slammed the door. Wu's been lights out all season with a team-best 2.25 ERA, but Seattle went just 1-3 in his first 4 starts because the offense mustered only 9 runs total, averaging barely 1 run per 9 innings when he pitched. Those early losses stung, like the 6-5 heartbreaker to the Guardians on March 28th and a 4-1 defeat in San Diego Tuesday, but Wu owned the blame despite the thin support.
Now with real run production behind him, Mariners look primed. Last year, they went 28-6 whenever they hit 3 or more homers, proving that's their blueprint to dominate the West.