Max Schuemann. Do you ever find yourself surprised by a series finale that turns out far better than the show ever was? It’s rare, but it does happen. For me, the ending of Star Wars Rebels* stands out as a particularly unexpected gem, despite my lukewarm feelings toward the series overall.
Something similar occurred during tonight’s Mariners game at the Oakland Coliseum. I’ve often poked fun at the Athletics’ performance and the state of their stadium, but witnessing the A’s departure from Oakland is a bit disheartening. Regardless of past rivalries, the A’s have been a part of Oakland’s sports culture for a long time.
As they prepare to leave, they decided to have a little farewell celebration, and the Mariners were more than happy to join in. The game started with a bang when Victor Robles was hit by the fifth pitch and swiftly made his way to second base, advancing to third on a throwing error. Although this setup didn’t directly lead to a run, Cal Raleigh made his presence felt with a powerful hit. Raleigh’s home run, which traveled nearly 400 feet at 112 mph and soared 140 feet into the air, was a sight to behold. This blast moved him up to second place in terms of home runs by catchers in their first four seasons and tied him for second place in Mariners history with 88 homers.
In the third inning, Julio Rodríguez got his turn. Oakland pitcher Estes delivered a first-pitch sweeper that Rodríguez hammered for a towering 448-foot shot. Though it didn’t have the same power or height as Raleigh’s, it was impressive enough to add another run to the board.
On the mound, Mariners starter Bryan Woo had a challenging night with his control. He frequently found himself in three-ball counts and allowed three singles in the third inning, which led to his first-ever run against Oakland on a Seth Brown sacrifice fly. Despite this, Woo managed to get out of the inning by inducing a chase from Zach Gelof.
In the fifth inning, Robles once again made things happen on the basepaths. He advanced to second and then to third, thanks to a misfield by third baseman Max Schuemann. Julio Rodríguez’s infield single allowed Robles to score, restoring the Mariners’ three-run lead.
However, Woo’s night was far from perfect. As his pitch count climbed, he surrendered a solo home run to Brent Rooker, narrowing the lead. Troy Taylor relieved Woo in the sixth inning and the A’s struggled against the Mariners’ bullpen for the rest of the game.
During a lull in scoring, Raleigh added a single and stole second base, inching closer to Dan Wilson’s record for most stolen bases by a Mariners catcher in a season. Wilson might have to decide whether to let Raleigh chase down his record.
In the ninth inning, Luke Raley joined the festivities with a two-run homer to center field, marking the final Mariners home run at the Coliseum. But with the baseball gods intent on keeping the game close, Andrés Muñoz faced some late-game drama. After getting two quick outs, Muñoz walked Lawrence Butler and then gave up a fastball to Rooker, who homered. To add a touch of humor, the Oakland audio team played Muñoz’s walk-up song during Rooker’s trot around the bases. It was a fittingly ironic end to a memorable game.
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