The Seattle Mariners secured their place in the playoffs, achieving this milestone after a 5-4 victory against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday evening. This win, their fifth consecutively, elevated their season’s standing to 88 wins and 69 losses. Having established a significant lead of three games the prior weekend with a clean sweep against the Houston Astros, the Mariners are now aiming to capture their first American League West title since 2001.
Entering the eighth inning, the Mariners were behind with a score of 3-1. However, Josh Naylor managed to turn the tide with a crucial two-out double with the bases loaded, shifting their deficit into a 4-3 advantage. Subsequently, Andres Munoz finalized the game in the ninth inning, achieving his 38th save this season.
Since Ichiro Suzuki’s win in 2001, no Mariners player has been awarded the MVP title. Cal Raleigh, the catcher, might have an opportunity to claim this honor, contingent upon how voters assess his performance compared to New York Yankees’ outfielder, Aaron Judge. While Raleigh has demonstrated outstanding performance throughout the season, establishing a new franchise record for single-season home runs and also achieving a league-wide distinction for his position, he is not the only player whose contributions have been vital to the Mariners’ success.
Instead, the Mariners have benefited from exceptional seasons from center fielder Julio Rodríguez, right-handed pitcher Bryan Woo, left fielder Randy Arozarena, and shortstop J.P. Crawford. Muñoz has also showcased excellence, earning his second All-Star Game recognition earlier in the summer.
After experiencing challenging months in May and June marked by losses, the Mariners have demonstrated remarkable focus and determination in September. The month began with a series of four losses, but they have since achieved a 14-1 record, including a significant 10-game winning streak.
To conclude their regular season, the Mariners are scheduled to play two additional games against the Rockies, followed by a series of three games against the Los Angeles Dodgers, potentially offering a preview of the World Series.
Seattle is the third team in the American League to have guaranteed their participation in the playoffs. The preceding two teams, the Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Yankees, both compete within the AL East.
