3 keys to Seattle’s series-opening triumph

SEATTLE -- It would be easy for the Mariners to go through the motions this week as they head toward the All-Star break in last place in the American League West, but they obviously had different plans, kicking off their final homestand of the first half with a hard fought 5-4 victory over the Cardinals.

• Box score

Here are three highlights from a well-played win:

1) Omar keeps hitting homers

When the Mariners acquired Omar Narváez this winter, they figured they’d added a catcher with a high on-base percentage who needed some work defensively, and didn’t have a ton of pop.

In essence, the polar opposite of Mike Zunino, the powerful former first-round Draft pick who struggled to get his batting average over .200 for much of his time with the Mariners.

But Narvaez has proven to have some punch as well in his first season in Seattle. His two-run blast in the fifth was his 12th of the season, a healthy number to go along with his .292/.365/.471 line after a 2-for-4 night.

After hitting just 12 homers in 221 games in his first three seasons in the Majors with the White Sox, the 27-year-old has reached a dozen homers in 72 games.

“I don’t feel like a big homer guy,” Narvaez said. “I just feel like a line-drive guy. I’m not even trying to lift the ball. I just try to put a good swing on it.”

He’ll take them though, right?

“Obviously, I do,” he said with a laugh.

Narvaez didn’t make the American League All-Star team, but a case could be made that he certainly deserved consideration as he leads all AL catchers in hits and runs, and is tied for third in homers.

Zunino remains a defensive standout, but he’s hitting just .186/.238/.317 with three homers in 47 games for the Rays.

2) Tim’s not done yet

While Tim Beckham’s playing time at shortstop is now going to young J.P. Crawford, the veteran infielder has tried to find ways to continue helping, and he delivered the go-ahead blast in the eighth with his first pinch-hit homer since 2015 -- a solo shot off reliever Giovanny Gallegos.

“We’re all pros here,” Beckham said. “You’re expected to be a professional. I’ve been playing this game for a while now and you control what you can control. I don’t make the lineup, so when I’m in there what I can control is seeing pitches, and swinging at good pitches. So just keep preparing like you’re in there every day and the game works mysterious ways. I was happy to get a big hit for the team tonight and happy to get a win.”

Beckham had a chance to get playing time recently at third when Kyle Seager sat out several games with a sore right wrist. He also got work at second when Dee Gordon missed Sunday’s game with a tight left quad muscle, which he says helped his timing.

But he’ll continue doing what he can to help Crawford develop at short and take advantage of what opportunities come his way.

“We have a good relationship,” he said of Crawford. “This game is tough, and he’s been swinging it really well and playing good on both sides of the ball. I tell him to just keep doing him. Go out there and have fun. You’re up here, go play your game.”

The opening-act audition continues

Rookie right-hander Matt Carasiti made his third start as an opener, surrendering a run for the first time on a solo homer by Jose Martinez, before then giving up a one-out single to Paul DeJong.

But a strike-‘em-out, throw-‘em-out double play against Paul Goldschmidt got Carasiti out of the inning, and he turned the game over to Wade LeBlanc with a 1-0 deficit. LeBlanc allowed one run in 4 2/3 innings and was in line for the win until Yairo Munoz tied the game with a two-run blast off reliever Anthony Bass in the seventh.

Seattle has used the opener nine times now, and the five relievers employed in those games have a combined 14.00 ERA with 14 runs on 14 hits, 12 walks and seven strikeouts, with three home runs.

While those numbers aren’t pretty, the Mariners have gone 4-5 when using the opener thanks to solid performances by the “bulk” pitchers in those games, with LeBlanc and Tommy Milone combining to go 3-0 with a 2.77 ERA in 55 1/3 innings.

“It all starts with pitching and we got exactly what we were hoping for out of the opener and Wade,” manager Scott Servais said. “I thought Wade threw the ball really well.”

The Mariners will continue trying out the opener, with Carasiti expected to get another opportunity in Thursday's afternoon series finale against the Cardinals in front of Milone.