Game recap: Mariners 5, Rays 2

Takeaway

Felix Hernandez is the win king. Thanks in large part to a career offensive night from SS Ketel Marte — he had a hand in all five runs — Hernandez broke Jamie Moyer’s team record of 145 career wins by beating the Tampa Bay Rays 5-2 Monday night. Hernandez allowed two runs off four hits over seven innings to earn No. 146, most by a pitcher in a Mariners uniform. Now, if he could get one in the postseason . . .

Essential moment

Marte was already having a night, with three hits and a pair of runs scored, before he stepped to the plate with two runners on in sixth inning. Marte broke a 2-2 tie by slamming the first pitch thrown by Rays reliever Steve Geltz into the seats in right-centerfield for his first homer of the season.

Pitchers

Hernandez (3-2) gave up a pair of solo homers and struggled with some wildness, but he was effective enough. He got through seven innings on 106 pitches.

Hitters

Marte was a hitting machine, going 4 for 5 with three RBIs and three runs scored. He scored Seattle’s first two runs – on a sacrifice fly and a wild pitch – then delivered the big blow. After recording a pair of doubles and an infield single from the right side of the plate, Marte homered from the left side. After his final at-bat, a groundout in the bottom of the eighth, Marte got a huge ovation from the Safeco Field crowd.

1B Dae-Ho Lee added a pair of hits, but Seattle’s offense didn’t generate much else. The Mariners left runners on second and third base in each of the first two innings and were 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position before Marte delivered in the sixth.

Words

“Well done.” – Moyer, addressing in a pre-taped, post-game video shown on the Safeco Field scoreboard after Monday’s win

“Probably at the top of that list with the career game.” – Hernandez, when asked where
the career wins record ranks among his career highlights

Noteworthy

RHP Taijuan Walker told reporters before Monday’s game that his stiff neck feels better, and he expects to be on the mound for his next turn in the rotation Wednesday afternoon. Walker came out of Friday’s loss to Houston after two innings because of stiffness in his neck . . . DH Nelson Cruz, who took Sunday off to rest a sore forearm, was back in the lineup Monday . . .Hernandez (146), Moyer (145) and Randy Johnson (130) are the only pitchers to record more than 100 wins in a Mariners uniform . . . Tampa Bay SS Brad Miller was making his first Safeco Field appearance in an opposing uniform. He spent parts of the past three seasons with the Mariners, posting a .248 batting average in 343 games . . . Ex-Mariner Logan Morrison was hitting .114 heading into Monday’s game. Morrison, Miller and reliever Danny Farquhar (pitching in Triple-A) were sent to the Rays in exchange for starter Nathan Karns during the offseason . . . Another former Mariner, RHP Erasmo Ramirez, is working out of the bullpen for the Rays.

Next

LHP Wade Miley (2-2, 4.74 ERA) needs 144 wins in a Mariners uniform to match Hernandez’s record, but he’s finally on the right track. Miley has been solid in his past two starts (1-0, 1.20 ERA) and threw his first career complete-game shutout the last time he was on the mound at Safeco Field. The Rays will send LHP Drew Smyly (1-3, 2.72 ERA) to the hill.