SEATTLE (Interstat) — Eugenio Suárez matched his career high with his 49th home run, powering the AL West champion Seattle Mariners to their 17th victory in 18 games, a 6-2 win over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday night at T-Mobile Park.

A day after clinching their first division title since 2001, the Mariners (90-69) were assured a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the AL Division Series when Cleveland lost to Detroit earlier in the day. Playing with postseason momentum, Seattle used a balanced attack and strong pitching to complete a three-game sweep of the Rockies (43-116).

Suárez provided the early fireworks, connecting on a hanging slider from Rockies starter Bradley Blalock (2-6) for a two-run homer in the second inning, scoring Jorge Polanco. The blast tied Suárez’s single-season best set with Cincinnati in 2019.

The Mariners broke the game open with a three-run fourth inning. After Josh Naylor was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, he scored on a fielder’s choice by Dominic Canzone. Mitch Garver followed with a single, and after a walk loaded the bases, Randy Arozarena delivered a two-run single to center field to extend the lead to 5-0.

Suárez added to his productive night with an RBI single in the fifth inning, scoring Naylor, who had doubled, to push the advantage to 6-0. The Mariners third baseman finished 3 for 4 with three RBIs, raising his career-high RBI total to 117.

The Rockies, who managed nine hits but struggled to capitalize with runners on base, finally got on the board in the sixth inning. Blaine Crim doubled and later scored on a single by Ezequiel Tovar. Colorado added a second run in the ninth when Hunter Goodman singled to score Kyle Karros, but it was not enough to mount a serious threat.

Mariners starter Emerson Hancock was dominant, tossing four scoreless innings and allowing just two hits while striking out seven. The Seattle bullpen took over from there, with Caleb Ferguson (5-4) earning the win after a perfect fifth inning. Matt Brash and Carlos Vargas combined for the final four innings, with Vargas surrendering the lone Rockies run in the ninth.

Blalock took the loss for Colorado, charged with five runs on seven hits over 3 2/3 innings. The Rockies used five relievers, with Anthony Molina providing 2 1/3 innings of one-run ball in relief.

The announced attendance was 40,686, and the game time was 2 hours, 31 minutes.

The Mariners will look to continue their hot streak as they open a pivotal three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday. The Rockies, owners of the worst record in baseball, travel to San Francisco to face the Giants.