CINCINNATI -- If Robinson Cano had ever driven in a run before with a hit-by-pitch, the Mariners second baseman had no such recollection. If not, add that odd stat to Cano's already impressive career resume.
Cano drove in the tying run in the seventh inning of Friday's 8-3 victory against the Reds at Great American Ball Park by taking the first pitch from Reds reliever Tony Cingrani in the small off the back with the bases loaded. It forced in Norichika Aoki from third base and was part of Seattle's four-run inning that enabled the Mariners to rally from a three-run deficit.
It was also the second time in as many plate appearances that a Cincinnati pitcher hit Cano. Reds starter Dan Straily started the sixth inning by plunking Cano. One out later, Kyle Seager doubled to the right-field corner to score Cano with the Mariners' first run.
"It doesn't matter," said Cano. "We don't want to get hit, but if it happens you've just got to go to first and be happy that at least you got the RBI."
Cano had his 10-game road hitting streak snapped after going hitless in his three official at-bats, but the two hit-by-pitches were just as vital as hits in helping the Mariners win the first game of a series for the ninth time in their last 11 attempts. Cano leads the team with 28 runs scored and 37 RBI.
Cano had been hit just once in the first 40 games of the season, but Cincinnati pitchers entered the game with 21 hit batters in 41 games.
"The idea is to get on base," Cano said. "You never know about the situation. I might hit into a double play. You never know. But that was a big inning for us. We ended up scoring the run to tie the game and then go ahead."