Mariners' quick-strike offense propels them within 2 games of Astros in AL West

SEATTLE -- The last two games of the Mariners’ series in Atlanta, when they hit 10 home runs and finished with a 28-run stretch in 12 innings, showed just how powerful Seattle’s lineup can be when everything goes right.

Coming back home Monday to open a crucial seven-game homestand, the Mariners showcased their potency in a much more repeatable way in a 4-2 win over the Cardinals that moved them to two games back of the Astros in the AL West race.

It’s not a matter of scoring 18 runs every night, or hitting five home runs on the regular. It’s a matter of always feeling within striking distance, knowing there’s a crooked number around the corner.

“Offensively, we know we can strike and strike quickly,” manager Dan Wilson said. “Throughout the ballgame today, even though we weren’t scoring early, the energy was there. We knew we were going to continue to be in this game.”

That’s how it went down Monday, even with the Mariners going into the sixth inning down 2-0.

St. Louis starter Miles Mikolas had Seattle’s number early, retiring the side in order in his first three frames and stranding leadoff doubles in the next two. Then Leo Rivas opened up the bottom of the sixth with a nine-pitch walk, and the Mariners -- starting their third pass through the order -- went to work.

“That big sixth inning there starts with a walk,” Wilson said. “You can’t miss that right there. That’s a great at-bat by Leo, getting on base to get things started.”

Randy Arozarena shot a single up the middle to put runners on the corners and end Mikolas’ night. Reliever Gordon Graceffo walked Cal Raleigh on four pitches to load the bases. That brought up Julio Rodríguez, who took the first pitch he saw and laced the second into left field to plate the Mariners’ first run of the night and bring the crowd at T-Mobile Park to its feet. Before they could return to their seats, Josh Naylor drilled a double to the right-center gap, scoring two more and putting Seattle ahead, 3-2.

Naylor went on to steal his 25th bag of the year, swiping third with Graceffo overly-focused on Jorge Polanco at the plate -- and Polanco promptly drove him home with a sacrifice fly.

“That’s just such a headsy play, it’s an aggressive play that set up a huge insurance run for us,” Wilson said. “That’s the way he sees the game. Any advantage you’re going to give him, he’s going to take.”

The whole burst -- from ball four to Rivas to Naylor coming home -- lasted 14 pitches. Before those 14 pitches, Seattle had managed three hits and stranded two runners in scoring position. After those 14 pitches, all seven Mariners hitters went down quietly.

But because of that one outburst, the Mariners had a spark, a lead and insurance.

That’s become the norm for Seattle, through its recent ups and downs. In each of the Mariners’ past eight wins -- dating back to a 1-0 shutout in Baltimore -- Seattle has brought what turned out to be the game-winning run home as part of a crooked-number inning.

“We knew we were going to be able to score,” Wilson said. “I think these guys put the good at-bats up there that they had to, and were able to get the four-spot. A really big night for us tonight offensively to come back from two down to get the two-run lead.”

The quick-strike formula only works if the pitching keeps everything within arms’ reach, though, and Seattle’s arms did just that. Bryan Woo got back to the six-inning threshold after a two-start absence, tying a career high with nine strikeouts with an Alec Burleson two-run home run in the fourth the only dint on his line.

Woo posted his 20th quality start of the season, tied with Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sanchez for the most in baseball.

“I thought he was throwing the ball well,” Wilson said. “They were battling him here and there, but I thought he was in good control of the ballgame.”

The offense cashed in as soon as he left, setting the bullpen up perfectly, and Matt Brash, Eduard Bazardo and Andrés Muñoz combined to work three easy innings to see the win out.