Luis Castillo pitched seven scoreless innings to win his third straight start as the Seattle Mariners defeated the visiting Atlanta Braves 3-2 on Tuesday night.
Jorge Polanco hit a two-run homer as the Mariners won for the 11th time in their past 14 games and clinched their fifth straight series victory.
Atlanta lost for just the fourth time in its past 15 games.
Castillo (3-4) allowed three hits, walked one and struck out seven. He retired the last 11 batters he faced after allowing a one-out single to Marcell Ozuna in the fourth inning. The Braves’ only other hits off the right-hander were a one-out single by Ozzie Albies in the first and a two-out single by Michael Harris II in the second.
The Mariners’ Andres Munoz got the final five outs for his fifth save of the season.
Braves starter Reynaldo Lopez (2-1), who entered the game with a 0.72 ERA, took the loss. He gave up three runs on six hits over five innings, with two walks and seven strikeouts.
The Mariners broke a scoreless tie in the third. Josh Rojas drew a one-out walk and, an out later, Polanco lined a 1-0 changeup just over the fence in right field. It was Polanco’s fourth homer of the season.
Seattle tacked on a run in the fourth after Mitch Haniger lined a one-out single to right. Luke Raley grounded a two-out single to center and Dylan Moore followed with an RBI double to left to make it 3-0.
The Braves finally got on the board in the eighth against reliever Ryne Stanek. Travis d’Arnaud led off with a single to right and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Former Mariner Jarred Kelenic reached base on an infield single and, one out later, Albies lined an RBI single to left.
Munoz took over and got Austin Riley to hit a chopper down the first base line, but Munoz threw the ball down the right field line, allowing Kelenic to score.
The Mariners intentionally walked Matt Olson to load the bases before Munoz struck out Ozuna on a 98-mph fastball just above the top of the strike zone. Orlando Arcia then hit a slow-roller that shortstop Moore charged at before making an off-balance throw to just nab Arcia, preserving the lead.
–Field Level Media