Mariners lose Friday but win in double OT Saturday

SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Mariners had a dramatic start to their weekend with a 12-6 loss Friday followed by a 5-4 double-overtime win against the Minnesota Twins Saturday. During the first game, Cal Raleigh nailed a three-run homer against Minnesota, accounting for the bulk of the Mariners’ score. 

Friday’s loss 

Carlos Correa hit a two-run home run in the 10th inning and the Minnesota Twins overcame a three-run deficit to beat the Mariners 12-6 on Friday night. 

Correa pounced on a first-pitch sinker from reliever Casey Legumina (4-3), sending it into the seats in left field. The Twins scored four more runs to cap off the victory. 

Mariners closer Andres Munoz, who had yet to give up an earned run this season, saw that accomplishment go by the wayside when Willi Castro hit a two-run home run. Trevor Larnach then tied it with an RBI single. 

The late Minnesota charge overshadowed a spectacular evening from Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh. With a pair of home runs that upped his season total to 21, Raleigh became the first catcher in major league history to reach at least 20 home runs before the end of May. 

Unfortunately for Seattle, Raleigh’s two and three-run home runs were not enough to stymie a Minnesota comeback and keep Twins reliever Jhoan Duran (4-1) from getting the victory. 

Prior to Larnach’s tying single, outfielder Byron Buxton — who was reinstated from the concussion list prior to the game — stole second base. By moving into scoring position with two outs, Buxton was able to score with ease on Larnach’s hit. 

Saturday double OT

Cole Young hit a fielder’s choice in the 11th inning in his major league debut for his first RBI, giving the Seattle Mariners a 5-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday night. 

Promoted from Triple-A Tacoma prior to the game, Young hit a dribbler up the first-base line off Cole Sands (3-2) to plate Miles Mastrobuoni. The throw from first baseman Ty France was not in time. 

Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh hit his 22nd home run of the year in the third to tie the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani for the major league lead. 

For the second straight game, the Mariners blew a lead in the ninth inning. Trevor Larnach singled to tie it for Minnesota, with Byron Buxton scoring after reaching base on reliever Carlos Vargas' fielding error. 

The Mariners took their first lead of the night on J.P. Crawford's two-run home run in the seventh inning. 

The Twins took a three-run lead in the second inning when Matt Wallner hit a two-run home run in his first game back from the injured list, and Buxton added a two-out RBI single. 

But a strong showing from the Mariners’ bullpen kept Minnesota’s bats mostly at bay. Collin Snider (2-1) tossed scoreless innings in the 10th and the 11th. 

Wallner tried to score from second on a single up the middle by Kody Clemens in the 10th inning. But Julio Rodriguez flashed a rocket arm with a perfect strike to home to gun down Wallner. Harrison Bader grounded into an inning-ending double play shortly after. 

Coverage of Sunday’s game will be in the Tuesday edition of the Columbia Basin Herald.