Mariners Game Notes — August 21 at Chicago White Sox

AS YOU KNOW…the Mariners hold an active 6-game winning streak (8/15-c), their second 6+ game winning streak of the month, after winning 8-consecutive from Aug. 2–11, but…DID YOU KNOW?…that it marks just the 3rd time in franchise history the Mariners have had multiple 6+ game winning streaks within the same calendar month?…the Mariners also had two 6+ game winning streaks in May of 1991, winning 6-consecutive from May 4–10 and 6-consecutive from May 12–18 and in May of 2001, winning 8-consecutive from May 9–17 and closing out the month winning the first 8 of the franchise record 15-game winning streak from May 23-June 8.

TONIGHT’S TILT…the Mariners continue a 10-game road trip (6–1) today with the 1st of 3 games against the Chicago White Sox…Seattle is coming off a series win against the Kansas City Royals (3–1) and a sweep of the Houston Astros (3–0) on the current road trip…following an off day Thursday, the Mariners will open up a 7-game homestand against the Kansas City Royals (3 G, 8/25–27) and Oakland Athletics (3 G, 8/28–30)…tonight’s game will be televised live on ROOT SPORTS with Dave Sims and Ryan Rowland-Smith on the call and broadcast live on Seattle Sports (710 AM) with Rick Rizzs and Gary Hill Jr. on the call.

ODDS AND ENDS…the Mariners won yesterday’s game against the Houston Astros by a 7–6 score, completing their first sweep at Minute Maid Park since Aug. 9–12, 2018, and extending their winning streak to 6 games…the Mariners are 14–3 over their last 17, 16–4 over their last 20, 19–5 over their last 24, 22–7 over their last 29 and 31–13 over their last 44 games…the Mariners are 53–19 when scoring at least 4 runs and 16–36 when scoring 3-or-fewer…the Mariners are 34–28 at T-Mobile Park and 35–27 on the road this season…they are 23–20 in day games and 46–35 at night.

• Brooms — The Mariners completed their 6th series sweep of the season in yesterday’s game, and their 3rd sweep in August…they have swept series vs. Colorado (3 G, April 14–16), at Oakland (3 G, May 2–4) and vs. Oakland (4 G, May 22–25), at Los Angeles-AL (4 G, Aug. 3–6), vs. San Diego (2 G, Aug. 8–9) and Houston (3 G, Aug. 18–20).
• Since July 1 — The Mariners have the 2nd-best record in the Majors since July 1…Seattle is 31–13 (.705) since then, trailing only the Dodgers (.714/30–12), while ranking ahead of Baltimore (.659/29–15), Atlanta (.619/26–16) and Boston (.610/25–16).
• Rising Tide — The Mariners are a season-high 14 games above .500 with a record of 69–55.
• Series-ly Great — Seattle has won 7 consecutive road series and has won 8 of its last 9 overall series…Seattle holds a 13–2–1 series record over its last 16 series dating back to June 30.
• You Have Entered the Canzone — Outfielder Dominic Canzone recorded his first 4-hit game yesterday, and is batting .296 (8x27) with a .906 OPS in 9 games since Aug. 8.
• You’re My Favorite Deputy — Since J.P. Crawford was placed on the 7-day Injured List on Aug. 11, José Caballero and Dylan Moore have combined to hit .353 (12x34) with a .893 OPS at shortstop.
• Roster Moves — The Mariners announced today that INF J.P. Crawford was reinstated from the 7-day IL (concussion) and RHP Darren McCaughan was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma…INF/OF Sam Haggerty was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma and RHP Emerson Hancock was placed on the 15-day IL (right shoulder strain).

THE OFFENSE IS CLICKING…the Mariners cranked out 15 hits in yesterday’s game, their 9th 10+ hit game of the month…dating back to July 1, the Mariners offense ranks among the top 10 in the Majors in batting average (7th, .263/399x1517), on base percentage (4th, .341), slugging percentage (5th, .455), OPS (4th, .796), wOBA (4th, .344), wRC+ (2nd, 125), home runs (T-5th, 62), runs (7th, 221) and runs per game (9th, 5.02)…since the start of the current road trip on Aug. 14, the Mariners offense leads the Majors in wRC+ (166), on base percentage (.399) and stolen bases (13), while ranking 2nd in batting average (.317/85x268), slugging percentage (.545), OPS (.943) and home runs (13).

THE J-ROD SHOW DESERVES AN EMMY…OR AUGUST POTM?…Julio Rodríguez went 1-for-5 with 1 double and 1 run scored in yesterday’s game, snapping a streak of 4-consective game with 4+ hits (Aug. 16–19), which tied an MLB record (also: Milt Stock of the Brooklyn Robins, 4 G, June 30-July 3, 1925) and his 17 hits during the 4 game span set a Major League record (since 1901), surpassing Milt Stock (16 H) over a 4-game span for the Brooklyn Robins from June 30-July 3, 1925…during the current road trip (Aug. 14-c) he is batting .568 (21x37) with 7 runs, 4 doubles, 2 home runs, 12 RBI and 6 stolen bases with a 1.417 OPS in that span…since June 24, Julio has been among the best players in the Majors, batting .333 (72x216) with 31 runs, 16 doubles, 9 home runs, 39 RBI and 17 stolen bases, getting on base at a .385 clip and slugging .532 (.917 OPS) with 2.9 fWAR which is tied for 6th in the Majors during that span…Julio has hit 49 home runs through 253 career games…with 1 home run in his next 15 games, he would become the fastest player in Mariners history to reach 50 career home runs, chasing Alex Rodriguez (50 HR, 269 G) and Cal Raleigh (50 HR, 271 G).

AUGUST HEAT…Teoscar Hernández is batting .342 (27x79) with 7 runs, 8 doubles, 2 home runs and 8 RBI, getting on base at a .369 clip and slugging .519 (.888 OPS) in 20 games since July 29…during that span, he has reached base safely in 17 of 20, hit safely in 14 of 20, with 6 multi-hit games (5 3+ hit games).

MOORE BASES THAN ONE…Dylan Moore went 4-for-5 with 1 RBI in yesterday’s game, recording his first career 4-hit game…since starting the season going 1-for-27 (June 7-July 8), he is batting .350 (21x60) with 11 runs, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 6 home runs and 15 RBI, getting on base at a .435 clip and slugging .767 (1.202 OPS) in 22 games since July 14…his 1.202 OPS leads the Majors among players with at least 50 plate appearances since the All-Star break…his .322 isolated slugging percentage (ISO) this season ranks 4th in the Majors (min. 90 PA), trailing Shohei Ohtani-LAA (.358), Aaron Judge-NYY (.342) and Matt Olson-ATL (.332).

WHAT A RELIEF SINCE JULY 1…the Mariners bullpen is 26–21 with a 3.47 ERA (159 ER, 412.2 IP) with 159 walks (13 intentional) and 460 strikeouts this season…they rank 3rd in MLB in ERA, trailing the Yankees (3.15) and Braves (3.40)…over the team’s last 43 games (7/1-c), Seattle relievers rank 2nd in the Majors with a 2.68 ERA (42 ER, 141.0 IP), notching 19 saves with 50 walks and 164 strikeouts…during that span, Justin Topa, Gabe Speier, Isaiah Campbell, Andrés Muñoz and Matt Brash all have a sub-3.00 ERA, led by Topa’s 0.47 ERA (1 ER, 19.1 IP) and Speier’s 1.29 ERA (2 ER, 14.0 IP).

HOME SWEET HOMESTAND…the Mariners return home Friday and open a 7-game homestand against the Kansas City Royals (3 G, 8/25–27) and Oakland Athletics (3 G, 8/28–30), highlighted by Fireworks Night on Friday, August 25, Native American Heritage Night on Monday, August 28, Julio Rodríguez Funko Pop! Collectible Night on Tuesday, August 29 and Death Cabby for Cutie Day on Wednesday, Aug. 30…tickets are available at Mariners.com/tickets.