SAN DIEGO — The Seattle Mariners struggled to explain how they erased a 10-run deficit in just two innings to stun the San Diego Padres 16-13 Thursday night.
Likewise, the Padres were practically at a loss for words at how they could take such a face-plant.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been a part of anything like that,” Seattle’s Kyle Seager said. “That was incredible. The fight was pretty special.”
So special that outfielder Leonys Martin, who’s on the disabled list, stood on the top step of the dugout and hollered throughout the largest comeback in Mariners history.
The previous record was set on April 15, 1996, when they rallied from eight runs down to beat the Angels 11-10.
Trailing 12-2 after five, Seattle benefited from an epic bullpen meltdown by the Padres to score five runs in the sixth and nine in the seventh.
Seager hit a bases-loaded, two-run single with one out in the sixth to chase starter Colin Rea, followed by rookie Dae-ho Lee‘s impressive, pinch-hit, three-run homer off Brad Hand that landed in the second balcony of the Western Metal Supply Co. Building in the left-field corner.
The Mariners then sent 13 batters to the plate in their nine-run seventh, getting seven straight singles with two outs. Seager once again had a big hit, a two-run single followed by an RBI single by Lee, who stayed in the game at first base. Pinch-hitter Stefen Romero singled in the tying run, and Shawn O’Malley‘s RBI single gave the Mariners a 13-12 lead.
Norichika Aoki added an RBI single and Franklin Gutierrez had a two-run single to make it 16-12. Aoki had two hits and scored twice in the inning.
“You don’t see that very often,” Seager said of the seven straight singles. “That doesn’t happen. That was just unbelievable and something I’ve never been a part of.”
Neither had Padres manager Andy Green.
“It’s one of those things that’s borderline inexplicable,” Green said. “I’ve been around baseball a long time and you don’t see teams come back from 10. It’s just not something that happens very often. … They were all clean hits.”
Hand and fellow relievers Ryan Buchter, Brandon Maurer and Matt Thornton combined to allow 10 runs on nine hits in 1 2/3 innings.
Maurer (0-2) gave up three runs while failing to get an out in the seventh.
In a radio interview Wednesday morning with flagship station the Mighty 1090, Padres executive chairman Ron Fowler called their recent performances “embarrassing” and “pathetic.” Fowler was angry about a 1-7 road trip that included a 16-4 loss at Seattle on Tuesday.
The Padres responded with a 14-6 victory Wednesday night. They appeared to be heading for their second straight win before the bullpen flopped.
Seattle manager Scott Servais said the game turned on Lee’s homer.
“That gave us a little adrenaline, like, hey, we might have a shot here. But we get five, and then the huge rally in the seventh. I don’t think we had any extra-base hits. It was just hit after hit. What can you say about our club? Guys don’t quit. They, they just kept battling.
“I can’t say enough about our guys and their belief in each other. That’s kind of what it’s about.”
Cody Martin (1-0), called up earlier in the day from Triple-A Tacoma, pitched the sixth for the victory. Steve Cishek worked a scoreless ninth for his 13th save in 16 chances.
San Diego’s Jon Jay had his first career five-hit game, one night after going 4 for 6. Jay, Wil Myers, Melvin Upton Jr. and Adam Rosales each drove in two runs. The Padres scored nine runs on 12 hits in 4 2/3 innings off Mariners starter Wade Miley.
Jay doubled and hit four singles in his first five at-bats, including RBI singles in the fourth and fifth.
The Padres sent 13 batters to the plate in the fifth, scoring seven runs on seven hits, two walks, a hit batsman and a balk by Miley. Myers and Upton each had a two-run single. Jay and Alexei Ramirez each had an RBI single.
Nelson Cruz hit a solo homer to right-centre estimated at 445 feet with one out in the fourth, his 11th.
Lee, pinch-hitting for Adam Lind in the sixth, pulled the Mariners to 12-7 with his three-run homer.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Padres: An MRI revealed that RHP Cesar Vargas has a flexor strain. He’ll be shut down for three weeks, Green said. Vargas was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday.
UP NEXT
Mariners: RHP Taijuan Walker (2-5, 3.31 ERA), who is 0-5 with a 4.91 ERA in his last six starts, is scheduled to pitch the opener of a three-game series at Texas, which is tied with Seattle for the AL West lead. The Rangers will counter with RHP Yu Darvish (1-0, 1.80).
Padres: LHP Drew Pomeranz (4-5, 2.48) starts the opener of a three-game home series against Colorado and LHP Chris Rusin (1-3, 4.75).
