Seattle Mariners received a broadcast of this season’s largest fashion fly, “Torpedo” bats, and some players tried them for the first time in Batting Practice Friday.
“It’s a bit funky,” said Mariners Catcher Cal Raleigh before the match. “But we’ll see. Need a little more time.”
Eight rounds later it was time to “take on da ‘funk.”
Raleigh changed bats during the game and met a record setting, two-run Homer to break a tie in the eighth round and give mariners a 5-3 victory against the visiting Texas Rangers.
The American League West Rivals are scheduled to continue their series of three games Saturday night.
“You know how baseball players are not particularly patience,” Raleigh said after his equipment. “It felt good. The swing felt good.”
Raleigh’s blast from the facade of the other tire in the right field outside Chris Martin was the 96th of his career and surpassed Mike Zunino for the Franchise disc for a Catcher.
“Congratulations to Cal to another performance. Just will be one of many coming,” said Mariner’s manager Dan Wilson, who is ranked third on the list of 88.
“I know there were a couple of guys swung (torpedo bats). Some guys are doing well with it, some guys don’t. But it was a big hit there.”
Jorge Polanco and Rowdy Tellez added solo images with conventional bats when Mariners won the following matches for the first time this season after their 7-6 victory against visiting Houston on Wednesday-a game Seattle dragged out of five runs after seven rounds.
“After Wednesday’s victory, it was good to come back and continue the energy,” Wilson said.
The sailors have won three of their last four matches, while division leader Texas has lost three out of four, which allows Seattle to reduce its deficit from six to three matches.
“The long ball got us, too many mistakes in the middle of the plate and they took advantage of it,” said Rangers Manager Bruce Bochy. “They are a good team, they fought and you had to give them credit.”
Rangers’ Josh Jung, who returned from the injured list (neck spasms) earlier this week, went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and binds the point with a two-run Homer, his first of the season, during the sixth.
Saturday pitching matchup will contain a couple of right hand in Texas Kumar-Rocker (0-1, 7.88 era) against Seatles Bryan Woo (1-0, 3.75).
Rocker, who is still looking for his first victory in Major league, debuted last September 12 at Seattle. He gave up a run of three hits over four rounds, with two walks and seven strikes, while he met a strict pitch.
Rocker went five rounds for the first time on Sunday to visit Tampa Bay but did not get a decision in a game that Rangers eventually won 4-3. He gave up a run in six rounds.
Rocker, the third overall draft by 2022, is 0-3 with a 5.49 era in five careers MLB starts.
“Hopefully he goes out with the mentality that he will get these guys out and make places,” Bochy said.
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