SEATTLE -- Even if Corey Dickerson is in a slump, he's always a threat.
The slugger validated that claim Wednesday afternoon with his first career grand slam in the Major Leagues in the Rays' 6-5 loss to the Mariners.
Grand slams mean 40% off pizza
Dickerson entered Wednesday afternoon's game in the midst of a 2-for-38 stretch that saw his average tumble from .259 to .183. And dating back to April 24, his previous three hits were all home runs.
Dickerson said he considers himself a threat even when the numbers aren't pretty.
"Every pitch I do," Dickerson said. "Because some things don't go your way. And 100 at-bats into the season don't mean anything. ... You just have to keep battling and let it take off from there."
The Rays trailed, 4-0, when Dickerson stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and one out in the sixth. Until that point of the game, Mariners starter Taijuan Walker appeared to have things under control.
"He was pitching really good," Dickerson said. "He was working off his fastball and had good offspeed."
Walker's fate would change quickly.
Dickerson wasted no time, swinging at the first pitch. He connected on a 77-mph curveball, depositing the baseball a projected 409 feet from home plate, according to Statcast™, to tie the game and give Dickerson his eighth home run of the season.
"I was looking heater," Dickerson said. "He throws pretty hard and I was trying not to miss the heater. And my body reacted to it. ... It's pretty cool to get the first one."
"He's obviously a dangerous guy and he's going to get more dangerous as he gets a little more consistent," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "That was a huge home run for us. Obviously jolted the dugout. Kind of revived us a little bit."