After Healy's 2 HRs, Mariners need late heroics

April 19th, 2019

ANAHEIM -- This time, left nothing to chance. After having a home run reversed by replay a day earlier, the big third baseman launched a pair of no-doubt long balls and delivered the go-ahead RBI single in the top of the ninth as the Mariners snapped a six-game skid with a wild 11-10 victory over the Angels.

Healy ended an 0-for-19 slump with his three-run blast in the second inning, a 416-foot shot into the rocks beyond the fence in left-center for a 4-0 lead, then added a two-run poke in the sixth.

The Mariners needed all of that -- and more -- to pull out the win after the Angels erased a 10-2 deficit with a seven-run seventh and a game-tying homer in the eighth. Bruce’s pinch-hit single off reliever Cody Allen held up as the game-winner, with slamming the door in the bottom of the ninth for his third save of the season.

“I give our offense a ton of credit,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “When you give up a lead like that, you lose a lot of momentum. Our guys found a way to get some guys on base, work the strike zone and get a big hit by Jay Bruce, and it was enough.

“Not the way we typically drew that up when you’re leading 10-2, but give the Angels credit. They battled back. Fortunate for us, we were able to get it done at the end.”

Healy’s two homers and five RBIs both tied career highs and helped the Mariners get off on the right foot to begin a six-game road trip after coming off an 0-6 homestand. Seattle is 14-8 overall and 9-1 on the road to start the season.

“This game is tough,” Healy said. “We obviously had one of the best stretch of 15 games we could have ever dreamed of. You know the game is going to humble you at some point. We’re going to kind of get through the ebbs and flows, at least early on right now, and find a way to get into a groove.”

The Mariners had their Major League record of 20 consecutive games with a home run to start the season snapped in Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to the Indians, but they bounced back with a trio of taters against the Angels. Catcher hit Seattle’s third homer of the night, a three-run shot in the seventh, as the Mariners hiked their MLB-leading homer total to 45.

Narvaez went 3-for-4 with two walks, four RBIs and three runs scored. Designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach also reached base five times, going 2-for-2 with three walks and two runs scored.

“Up and down the lineup, we were really consistent,” Servais said. “Nice to see that again. We saw that for the first part of the season. The last homestand was really rough for us, but we got it going again tonight.”

Felix Hernandez (1-1, 4.91 ERA) wound up with a no-decision after throwing six-plus innings of four-run ball, allowing nine hits with a walk and three strikeouts. Hernandez was pulled after giving up two hits to open the seventh, and by the time that frame ended, the Angels had scored seven times off relievers R.J. Alaniz and Brandon Brennan to cut the lead to 10-9. David Fletcher then tied the game on a homer off Anthony Swarzak in the eighth.

Healy was one of Seattle’s hot hitters in their early season run and still ranks among the MLB leaders in doubles and extra-base hits, but his average had dropped from .286 to .218 over the last seven games.

“Quite frankly, it was just nice to contribute,” Healy said. “I felt like I had better at-bats tonight, I wasn’t missing my pitches. It felt good.”

The 27-year-old had a home run taken off the board by replay in Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to the Indians when the review showed the line drive sailing just wide of the left-field foul pole, but he drove an 0-2 slider well beyond the reach of center fielder Mike Trout for his fourth home run of the year in the second and then cleared the fence again with a 399-foot shot in the sixth.

Healy, who has gone through some challenges at third base while filling in for the injured Kyle Seager, also made an excellent defensive stop in the third inning with a diving snag of a 102-mph shot down the line by Trout, scrambling quickly to his feet and making a strong throw to get the Angels star by several steps.

Did Healy enjoy that play as much as his home runs?

“Maybe a little more, to be honest,” he said. “That was fun. Not just because it was Trout, but just the play itself. I’ve been playing first base for a while and getting to do stuff like that is really fun. I was busy over there, but it was fun to contribute and help our pitchers.”