Woo's consistency puts him in Cy Young's company

NEW YORK – Right-hander Bryan Woo gave the Mariners everything they wanted against the Mets on Saturday at Citi Field.

Woo gave them length, throwing at least six innings and walking two or fewer for the 24th consecutive outing to start the season. However, one mistake proved costly in a 3-1 loss to New York.

Woo's streak of six-plus inning starts with two or fewer walks to open a season is the second longest since the mound was moved to its current distance in 1893, behind Cy Young's 30 in 1905.

Woo almost didn't make it out of the sixth. He got two quick outs, but he allowed consecutive singles to Jeff McNeil and Francisco Alvarez. Cedric Mullins drew a walk to load the bases.

In the dugout, manager Dan Wilson talked with pitching coach Pete Woodworth about taking Woo out of the game. But Woo’s reputation as a bulldog helped him stay in, and he got Ronny Mauricio to pop out to first baseman Josh Naylor to end the threat.

It meant a lot to Woo that his manager had confidence in him.

“At this point, you have to earn it,” Woo said. “There have been situations in years past where I didn’t get that opportunity. And it sucks, but you hope that over time, you build that confidence in your manager and your team that they give you that opportunity. I’m just glad I was able to get it and come through on it.”

Woo’s only miscue came in the third inning. After Brett Baty singled to lead off the frame, Francisco Lindor doubled near the right-field line, allowing Baty to score all the way from first.

“It was a tough one today,” Wilson said. “I thought Bryan Woo did a great job getting through six innings. He took us right to the edge. He threw the ball well, continued to do what Bryan does. They were able to get to him a little bit early. But outside of that, he did a really nice job settling in.”

Woo noticed the Mets were aggressive throughout the game and put some good swings on his pitches.

“There were a couple of long ABs,” Woo said. “You can live with getting singled to death, so long as I’m making good pitches and they are putting good swings on good pitches. It’s a tip of your cap situation.”

Woo’s counterpart, Nolan McLean, made his Major League debut and pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings. Seattle’s best chance to score off McLean came in the third. The Mariners had the bases loaded with one out, but Julio Rodríguez hit a hard shot to McLean, who made a behind-the-back grab and started a double play to end the threat.

"I guess the ball just kind of found me on that one. I got a little lucky. It hit my glove. It wasn't really something you [drew] up, but it worked out," McLean said.

Said Wilson, “A nifty little play with the bases loaded, and they get the double play. It took the wind out of our sails early. He made some tough pitches when he had to. He gave us some opportunities. He got wild there a couple times, but we weren’t able to cash in on those opportunities.”

The Mariners scored their only run in the ninth, when Eugenio Suárez hit a solo homer over the left-center-field wall against Mets closer Edwin Díaz.

With the loss, the Mariners are 1 1/2 games behind the Astros in the American League West. On Sunday morning, the Mariners will travel to Williamsport, Pa., to play the Mets in the Little League Classic that night.

“Come game time, they will be ready to play,” Wilson said. “I think we all know the importance of each game at this point of the season. It’s nice to get a chance to soak in [some of the festivities], but come game time, I know they will be ready to play.”