ST. LOUIS --- Rob Refsnyder thought he was walking back to the dugout.
Instead, he got another chance -- and didn’t miss it.
After using an ABS challenge to overturn a called third strike, Refsnyder stayed alive and launched a go-ahead, pinch-hit solo homer in the ninth inning, lifting the Mariners to a 3-2 win over the Cardinals on Sunday afternoon at Busch Stadium.
The blast, a 412-foot drive to left field at 106.6 mph, gave Seattle its first lead of the day and capped a series defined by timely swings and dominant pitching.
This one leaned heavily on the latter.
Emerson Hancock delivered a crucial outing for a taxed bullpen, working six innings while navigating traffic throughout. The right-hander allowed seven hits and two solo homers but limited the damage to two runs, stranding runners in every inning and keeping Seattle within striking distance. That set the tone for the bullpen to take over.
Gabe Speier and Eduard Bazardo combined for three scoreless innings, slamming the door late and giving the offense a chance to break through. It was a continuation of a group effort that had been stretched thin over the previous two days.
Seattle’s offense did just enough. Cal Raleigh provided the early answer with a solo homer to tie the game, and in the seventh, Connor Joe and Cole Young teamed up for back-to-back two-out hits to even it again at 2.
From there, it became about one swing. Refsnyder’s moment -- extended by technology and finished with authority -- proved to be the difference, sealing a sweep for a Mariners team that entered the series with just one road win all season.
Now, they leave St. Louis with four.