Mariners grand – A grand slam from Dominic Canzone powered Seattle’s win over Houston, ending slumps and delivering a debut in a 10-2 finish.
Mariners fans didn’t just watch the Astros under the lights Tuesday night; they saw the evening flip from tense to electric in a single swing that landed with a grand slam’s impact.
Dominic Canzone’s moment arrived in the fourth inning after a four-pitch walk by J.P.. Crawford loaded the bases with nobody out.. With Houston’s Tatsuya Imai struggling to lock in the strike zone. pitching coach Josh Miller paid a visit to the mound. likely intended to give the bullpen time to warm.. Once the visit ended. a back-and-forth developed between Imai and home plate umpire Jim Wolf. which appeared tied to Imai’s ability to pitch from the stretch with runners on.. In the end, that delay did not slow down Seattle’s momentum.
The first pitch Canzone saw was a hanging slider from Imai. clocked at 87 mph and dropped right over the heart of the plate.. Canzone didn’t miss. launching a 105.5 mph drive to the right-field seats for a grand slam. the first of his major league career.. It quickly widened the gap, turning the Mariners’ advantage into a commanding 6-2 lead.
Before that crucial pitch, Imai’s night had been trending better than his previous outing against Seattle.. On April 10 at T-Mobile Park. he managed to retire only one batter while walking four. and he was removed after allowing three runs over just 37 pitches.. That start also preceded a month-long stint on the injured list due to arm fatigue. before he was activated for Tuesday’s game.
Seattle’s damage wasn’t limited to Canzone.. Randy Arozarena had already put runs on the board with a two-run homer into the Crawford Boxes. and he added more to his production across the night.. He finished 4-for-4. coming up a triple short of the cycle. and was involved early in the big rally by reaching base to start it in the fourth.. In that stretch, he was hit by a pitch immediately after a successful ABS challenge aimed at a would-be strikeout.
On the pitching side. Bryan Woo wasn’t at his sharpest. but the final result still reflected the benefit of run support.. Woo allowed two runs. with the second coming after back-to-back walks to Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez opened the third inning and tied the game at two.. After that, he settled in, working six innings and striking out nine batters, throwing a career-high 104 pitches in the process.. His approach leaned more heavily on his sinker and sweeper than his season average. and while the swing-and-miss totals were spread across his arsenal. he still generated 14 whiffs. with half tied to his four-seam fastball.
The Mariners then kept the game under control through relief.. Alex Hoppe entered and delivered two scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth. retiring all six hitters he faced in order.. That shutdown helped Seattle provide rest for a bullpen that is missing several key arms. including Gabe Speier. Matt Brash. and José Ferrer.
Seattle’s offense also provided relief for a struggling hitter.. Cal Raleigh finally ended his 0-for-38 slump. delivering a single to right-center in the seventh that sparked visible energy on the field.. He added another single in the ninth, finishing 2-for-4 and reaching to score three runs.. Raleigh also reached base via a walk in the second and came around to score after Arozarena’s earlier homer.
Even the late innings offered a feel-good storyline.. In a low-leverage ninth inning. right-hander Domingo González was given the chance to make his major league debut while José Ferrer remained on paternity leave.. González handled the frame without giving up damage despite allowing two Astros to reach base. helping close out an emphatic 10-2 win.
The result also carried a broader message for Houston: it marked Seattle’s ninth consecutive victory over the ‘Stros. a streak stretching back to last September.. With another chance to build on the momentum. the Mariners are set to return to Daikin Park in Houston on Wednesday for the third game of this four-game set. with the goal of securing a series win.
Mariners vs Astros Dominic Canzone grand slam Cal Raleigh slump Bryan Woo outing Tatsuya Imai Domingo González debut