Mariners alone in 1st thanks to Crawford’s 9th-inning HR

NEW YORK – As the Mariners have surged again into the thick of a three-way race for the American League West, posting the perfect document in baseball (39-16) and outscoring opponents by a 292-195 margin since July 1, it hasn’t all the time been simple.

Seattle has proven a aptitude for the dramatic when warranted, particularly on the street, and that got here to cross as soon as extra on Saturday evening at Citi Field. In a momentum-shifting contest that was twice tied, shortstop J.P. Crawford launched a go-ahead solo dwelling run to guide off the ninth inning — his first profession go-ahead homer within the ninth or later — to propel the Mariners to a pivotal 8-7 win over the Mets.

Crawford’s blast to proper area on the second pitch he noticed from Mets right-hander Adam Ottavino ensured that Seattle sat in first place with a one-game benefit within the division race after the Astros’ loss to the Yankees on Saturday.

“There’s a lot of guys on our team we wouldn’t be in a good place without, but at the top of the list is J.P.,” mentioned supervisor Scott Servais. “His consistency throughout the year, the big hits, [he’s] kind of the glue that keeps the whole thing together in the middle of the field. The big hits don’t surprise me that much with him anymore.”

Crawford’s clutch dinger was the Mariners’ sixth go-ahead homer within the ninth inning or later this season — probably the most of any AL membership – and it gave him 14 lengthy balls on the 12 months, extending his career-best mark. On an evening when he went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, there was additionally a chance that he may not have been within the recreation when the ninth rolled round.

The left-handed-hitting Crawford was drilled on his proper hand by an 84.5 mph changeup in his fifth-inning at-bat towards Mets starter David Peterson. Though he was momentarily shaken up, he quickly took his place at first base, which got here in useful a couple of batters later. After being moved as much as third on a groundout and a single, Crawford sped dwelling on Teoscar Hernández’s sacrifice fly to proper, crossing dwelling plate within the nick of time for Seattle’s second go-ahead run of the evening.

“It’s going to take a lot for me to come out of the game, especially around now in September when we’re chasing something,” Crawford mentioned. “Something would have to be broken or the trainers are going to have to tell me to come out of the game at this point.”

Hernández was accountable for the primary go-ahead run as nicely, opening the scoring within the second inning together with his twenty fourth homer of the season. It was extra of the identical for Hernández, who hit .365 with 22 RBIs and a 1.050 OPS in 26 video games throughout Seattle’s franchise-record 21-win August.

“It’s awesome,” mentioned reliever Justin Topa, who earned the win with 4 outs within the eighth and ninth. “Teo’s past month and a half has been unbelievable. J.P. seems like he’s up in every big spot and does damage every time.”

Though the Mets threatened to play spoiler as soon as extra within the backside of the ninth, the Mariners had been the beneficiary of a call from Daniel Vogelbach (Friday’s hero for New York) to attempt to stretch a leadoff single right into a double.

Left fielder Sam Haggerty corralled the ball and obtained it in rapidly to Crawford, who was briefly caught off guard by Vogelbach charging into second. But he recovered rapidly and fired a laser to second baseman Josh Rojas, who tagged Vogelbach out upfront of his headfirst slide. It was a play that Crawford mentioned, “I’ve never seen before in all my years of playing.”

Seattle actually didn’t thoughts getting some assist alongside the way in which, particularly after such a hard-fought battle. Now, the Mariners discover themselves within the driver’s seat within the division and enter Sunday’s rubber match with an opportunity at their twelfth sequence win of their final 13 tries.

“The grind has been really fun,” Crawford mentioned. “We’ve been through the highest of highs, we’ve been through the lowest of lows. It’s kind of a full-circle effect, and we’re just riding that wave right now.”