Bryan Woo pitched seven strong innings, and the Seattle Mariners took advantage of two hit batters in the sixth inning to score twice and beat the San Francisco Giants 4-3 on Sunday.
The game was tied 2-2 when Randy Arozarena was hit by a pitch to start the sixth inning. Justin Turner then singled, and Jorge Polanco was also hit by a pitch, loading the bases.
Arozarena scored when Mitch Haniger hit into a double play, and Josh Rojas’ single drove in another run, making the score 4-2.
This win gave the Mariners their first series victory since they swept the New York Mets on August 11 and was also Dan Wilson’s first series win as manager. They had fired their longtime manager Scott Servais after a 1-8 road trip and needed this win badly.
“It was a big, big weekend for us,” catcher Cal Raleigh said. “We needed that, and I think the boys are pretty happy.”
Woo (6-2) gave up a two-run homer to Heliot Ramos in the first inning but retired the next eight batters and 12 of the next 13.
Over the following six innings, Woo allowed three singles but did not let another runner reach second base. He gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits, with no walks and seven strikeouts.
“Bryan Woo was tremendous today,” Wilson said. “The homer in the first inning, you know, I think when you try to get to good pitchers, you try to get to them early, and they were able to get him that one time early. But after that, wow. That was special.”
Woo has pitched into the seventh inning in his last five starts. He has a 1.59 ERA over 34 innings during this stretch, with 31 strikeouts and three walks.
“It’s kind of opened up a new, maybe part of my game,” Woo said. “… I think I’ve always tried to be that guy of getting in late, late into ballgames, and being able to find that, as of recently, has been awesome.”
