Josh Naylor hit a go-ahead home run in the sixth inning, helping the Seattle Mariners secure a 3-2 win against the St. Louis Cardinals on April 25. The victory ended an eight-game road losing streak for Seattle.
Naylor’s performance was crucial for the Mariners, as he not only contributed with his bat but also demonstrated aggressive base running and instinctive play. Earlier in the game, after fouling a pitch off his foot, he drew a walk, stole second base without being caught, and scored on Dominic Canzone’s two-out single. Since joining Seattle on July 24 of last year, Naylor has successfully stolen 21 bases without being caught.
Manager Dan Wilson praised Naylor’s approach: “That’s how he plays the game,” Wilson said. “Running the bases hard, great at-bats — that’s Naylz.”
Seattle capitalized on timely hitting throughout the night. Two of their three runs came with two outs, including Randy Arozarena scoring after leading off with a double in the second inning and Cole Young driving him in with a single.
Starting pitcher George Kirby allowed two runs over six-plus innings while keeping his pitch count low and working efficiently. “Just trying to stay aggressive and keep the game moving,” Kirby said. “Those quick innings help everything.”
The bullpen preserved Seattle’s narrow lead late in the game. Matt Brash finished out the seventh inning cleanly before Eduard Bazardo induced an important double play to escape trouble in the eighth. Andrés Muñoz closed out the ninth by striking out a batter after allowing a two-out single.
Wilson highlighted his confidence in Seattle’s relievers: “You look at our bullpen, that’s a big difference-maker,” Wilson said. “We’ve got guys we trust in those spots.”
The Mariners will look to build on this win as they continue their series against St. Louis.
