Sheffield solid again, France, Marmolejos homer in Mariners win over Diamondbacks
Justus Sheffield seems to take another step forward each time he steps on the mound this season.
The 24-year-old rookie collected his first big league win in August, tossing six scoreless innings and setting off a string of three consecutive quality starts. Last week against the Rangers, he completed seven innings for the first time in his career.
Saturday night at Chase Field in Phoenix, Sheffield matched that production, pacing the Mariners to a 7-3 win over the Diamondbacks behind another seven quality frames, and picking up his first road win. It was his fifth quality start in his past six outings.
“I think I’m kind of starting to figure out a little bit more about myself, especially in these outings,” Sheffield said during a postgame video call. “I’m learning week to week after each outing about how I’m going about attacking guys, and what pitches I’m using and things like that, so it’s been great to figure out who I am versus big league hitters.”
The solid start from Sheffield also put an end to three consecutive losses for the Mariners (20-25), who remain within reach of a playoff spot, 2 1/2 games back of the Astros for second place in the American League West with about two weeks left to play.
Mariners manager Scott Servais often points to starting pitching as a catalyst for success, and Sheffield was steady in helping lift Seattle out of this skid.
“He’s continuing to grow, and the confidence and the sequencing of his pitches has just been really, really good, and he’s got great stuff,” Servais said.
After his offense put up five runs across the first two innings, Sheffield worked quickly and efficiently, leaving little doubt he would carry the lead throughout.
He breezed through the Diamondbacks lineup the first time through, running into trouble only in the fourth, when he faced eight batters. Sheffield loaded the bases to lead off the inning, and Arizona managed a pair of runs on a single by Wyatt Mathisen, but that was all he allowed. He loaded the bases again with one out, but got a strikeout and groundout to end the threat with the Mariners still up 5-2.
“I was definitely upset, just because I had a few walks that inning and they got some knocks off the end of the bat that fell, which is kind of the name of the game, but if I can limit those walks then maybe they don’t score those two runs,” Sheffield said.
Sheffield retired nine of the final 11 batters he faced, including striking out the side in the sixth. He finished allowing the two runs on five hits with three walks and seven strikeouts on 96 pitches. His 66 strikes were the most he’s thrown in a game in his young career.
“Going seven last week, I kind of told myself that I was capable of doing that, and hopefully can pitch even deeper as we keep going here,” Sheffield said. “But, that’s my goal every time I’m out there, is to pitch deep in the game as long as possible and get our guys back in the dugout.”
Kendall Graveman allowed one more run in the eighth on a fielder’s choice from David Peralta, but the Diamondbacks never seriously contested the lead. Yoshihisa Hiarno pitched a scoreless ninth to end the game.
After scuffling at the plate the past three games, the Mariners’ offense unloaded in the first inning, putting up a four spot to give Sheffield a comfortable lead.
Ty France hit his second solo homer in as many days, Jose Marmolejos doubled to score a run, and Luis Torrens doubled to push across to more to make it 4-0.
Kyle Seager drew a bases-loaded walk the following inning to scratch across another.
Marmolejos later crushed his fifth home run of the season to give the Mariners a 7-2 lead in the fifth.
“We’re hitting the ball consistently up and down the lineup,” Servais said. “It’s not just one guy, it’s a number of guys chipping in there and that’s what it’s going to take. We’ve relied real heavily on the Kyles. It’s been Lewis and Seager and everybody else.
“Tonight, everybody’s chipping in and that’s what it’s going to take to win these games and stay consistent offensively.”
This story was originally published September 12, 2020 at 8:04 PM.
