Jarred Kelenic’s 482-foot homer helps Mariners beat Cubs 5-2

Associated PressApr 12, 2023, 5:57 PM EDT
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
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CHICAGO – Logan Gilbert pitched 6 2/3 innings of four-hit ball, Teoscar Hernández and Jarred Kelenic hit consecutive home runs in the eighth and the Seattle Mariners snapped a three-game losing streak by beating the Chicago Cubs 5-2 on Wednesday.

Kelenic’s homer landed in the upper center field bleachers and traveled 482 feet, the second-longest at Wrigley Field since Statcast began tracking in 2015 and trailing only Willson Contreras‘ 491-footer in Game 4 of the 2017 NL Championship Series.

Chicago (6-5) had beaten Seattle (5-8) seven consecutive times dating to July 31, 2016, the Cubs’ longest win streak against an American League team since interleague play started in 1997.

Gilbert (1-1) recovered from a rocky start by retiring 12 consecutive batters and allowing only two hits after Nico Hoerner and Nick Madrigal hit consecutive singles in the first. With the potential tying run on base in the seventh, Matt Brash induced Miles Mastrobuoni‘s inning-ending groundout.

Cubs starter Marcus Stroman‘s scoreless streak to start the season ended in the third at 14 innings when Eugenio Suárez hit an RBI single. Stroman (2-1) has a 1.80 ERA in 10 starts dating to Aug. 30.

Stroman (2-1) allowed two runs and five hits in six innings, and Brad Boxberger gave up an RBI single to Ty France in the seventh.

Hernández greeted Julian Merryweather with a homer that landed near the top of the left field bleachers. Kelenic, who hit a single in the second inning to extend his hitting streak to a career-best seven games, hit .458 (11 for 24) on a six-game trip.

Cody Bellinger homered in the ninth for the Cubs.

SWANSON SITS

Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson ended his streak of regular season games played at 192. Swanson left in the middle of Tuesday’s game due to lower left side soreness. “Just win the war, not the battle,” said Swanson, who also has been attending to his wife Mallory, who underwent left knee surgery early Tuesday morning after an injury while playing for the U.S. women’s soccer team in a World Cup prep match against Ireland. The previous time Swanson missed a game was on Sept. 10, 2021, while playing for Atlanta. Swanson expects to return to the lineup Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mariners: RHP Andrés Muñoz (right deltoid strain) hopes to resume throwing Friday. … After needing 5 2/3 innings from its bullpen Tuesday, Seattle selected the contract of RHP Darren McCaughan from Triple-A Tacoma. RHP José Rodriguez was optioned to Tacoma and LHP Brennan Bernardino was designated for assignment.

Cubs: RF Seiya Suzuki (left oblique strain) homered for Triple-A Iowa against Omaha and could rejoin the Cubs this weekend. Suzuki is 4 for 13 (.308) in four rehab games.

UP NEXT

Mariners: LHP Marco Gonzales (1-0, 4.22) will face Colorado LHP Austin Gomber (0-2, 6.75) on Friday at T-Mobile Park.

Cubs: LHP Justin Steele (1-0, 0.75) will oppose Los Angeles RHP Noah Syndergaard (0-1, 6.30) on Friday at Dodger Stadium

Orioles sign OF Aaron Hicks, put Cedric Mullins on 10-day IL with groin strain

Associated PressMay 31, 2023, 11:07 AM EDT
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
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BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Orioles signed outfielder Aaron Hicks less than 24 hours after Cedric Mullins went down with a strained right groin.

Mullins went on the 10-day injured list, but the Orioles are hoping Hicks can help defensively in the spacious outfield at Camden Yards. Hicks was released last week by the New York Yankees with more than 2 1/2 seasons left on his contract.

“We had noticed that he was a free agent even before the injury,” Orioles general manager Mike Elias said. “When the injury occurred and it became pretty clear this was going to be an IL, it seemed like a good fit even more so at that time.”

The Orioles are responsible for paying Hicks just $483,871, a prorated share of the $720,000 minimum salary. The Yankees owe him the rest of his $10.5 million salary this year, plus $9.5 million in each of the next two seasons and a $1 million buyout of a 2026 team option.

The 33-year-old Hicks hit just .188 in 28 games for the Yankees this year.

“We have stuff that we look at from a scouting and evaluation perspective,” Elias said. “It’s very different from just looking at the back of a baseball card, and we hope that we get a bounceback from anyone we bring here.”

Hicks batted .216 last season.

“Hopefully that’s a good thing for him,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of the Baltimore deal. “A lot of time here and a lot of good things happened for him here. I know the last couple of years have been a struggle. But hopefully it’s a good opportunity for him and certainly wish him well. Not too well being in our division and a team we’re chasing, but hopefully it’s a really good fit for him.”

Mullins left a loss to Cleveland after he pulled up while running out an infield grounder. Outfielder Colton Cowser – the fifth pick in the draft two years ago – is hitting .331 at Triple-A Norfolk, but he went on the IL in the past couple weeks.

“Certainly he was building a case towards promotion consideration prior to his injury and prior to Cedric’s injury,” Elias said. “We’ll just see where we’re at.”

Hicks was active for the game but not in the starting lineup. Austin Hays, normally Baltimore’s left field, was in Mullins’ usual spot in center.

When the wall in left at Camden Yards was pushed significantly back before last season, it made left field a bigger challenge defensively.

“In this park … you really need two center fielders,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “Aaron’s got a lot of center-field experience. Played left field here before also. Brings the defensive aspect and then the switch-hitting.”