Colorado Rockies at Seattle Mariners

SEATTLE (Interstat) — Josh Naylor lined a three-run double in the bottom of the eighth inning, capping a dramatic comeback as the Seattle Mariners rallied to defeat the Colorado Rockies 4-3 on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Park.

In a game dominated by pitching for seven innings, the Mariners’ offense awoke just in time, scoring all four of their runs in their final two at-bats to snatch a victory in front of 35,925 fans.

The loss was a crushing one for the Rockies, who fell to 43-114. The Mariners improved to 88-69 with their fifth consecutive win.

Colorado’s McCade Brown was brilliant in a no-decision, striking out 10 over five innings of one-run ball. He allowed just two hits, one of which was a solo home run by Dominic Canzone in the fifth inning that broke up the shutout. Brown’s dominant performance was largely matched by Seattle’s Bryce Miller, who surrendered three runs on five hits over 5 2/3 innings.

The Rockies had built their lead methodically. They scored once in the second inning when Jordan Beck led off with a double and later came home on a Kyle Karros ground ball single. They added two more in the sixth against Miller. Mickey Moniak doubled, and after a walk to Blaine Crim, Ezequiel Tovar delivered a two-run single to right field, extending the Colorado lead to 3-1.

The game turned decisively in the eighth against Rockies reliever Juan Mejia (2-2). Mejia struggled with his command, hitting Luke Raley with a pitch and walking J.P. Crawford. After Randy Arozarena struck out, Mejia fanned Cal Raleigh for the second out, but then hit Julio Rodríguez to load the bases.

That brought Naylor to the plate, and the first baseman ripped a line drive into the gap in left-center field, clearing the bases and giving Seattle its first lead of the night. All three runs were charged to Mejia.

The Mariners’ bullpen was lights-out, combining for 3 1/3 innings of scoreless, one-hit relief with six strikeouts. Gabe Speier (4-3) earned the win after striking out the side in the top of the eighth inning. Andrés Muñoz worked a perfect ninth, striking out two, to secure his 38th save of the season.

The Rockies, who outhit the Mariners 7-3, could not muster a response against Seattle’s relievers. Carlos Vargas and Muñoz retired the final six Colorado batters in order.

The result defied the pregame projections, which heavily favored the Mariners. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 7-3 Seattle victory, and its ELO system gave the Mariners a 77.6% probability to win. The combined seven total runs fell under the over/under line of 8.

The two teams will continue their three-game series Wednesday night at T-Mobile Park. The Rockies will then travel to San Francisco for a weekend series, while the Mariners will prepare for a crucial season-ending showdown with the Los Angeles Dodgers.