Mariners Game #95: 7/11/24, SEA at LAA

The Mariners begin their last series before the All-Star Break

After sweeping a two-game series in San Diego (call that the feather duster?), the Mariners head to one more stop in Southern California before the All-Star Break, taking on the divisional rival Angels. It’s a four-game set, so it’ll be very hard to sweep (or mop, as we like to call it around here), but the Mariners desperately need to come out of this with a series win to head into the break feeling like they’ve recaptured some of their early-season mojo.

Lineups:

Tonight the Mariners are starting Luis Castillo, while the Angels will counter with rookie Jack Kochanowicz, which I’d like you all to know I spelled right on the first try. Marc Rzepczynski trained me well for times like this. Kochanowicz will be making his big-league debut straight out of Double-A after being drafted in 2019, but he’ll come armed with a plus changeup, a pitch that has befuddled Mariners hitters all season. They’ll need to make an adjustment like they did with Adam Mazur in San Diego earlier on this road trip, because Kochanowicz should be attackable given his hittable fastball, and the fact that he is a product of Angels pitching development. On the lineup side, Anthony Rendon is back and in the leadoff spot, with pesky on-base threat Nolan Schanuel behind him; slugging catcher Logan O’Hoppe hits fifth.

The Mariners will roll with mostly their typical lineup, although with switch-hitting Jonatan Clase, recently recalled from Triple-A, making the start over righty Victor Robles in place of the injured Dominic Canzone. Rojas moves back into the two-hole with the speedster Clase at the bottom of the lineup.

Game information:

Game time: 6:38 PT

TV: ROOT Sports NW, with Aaron Goldsmith and Dan Wilson

Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports, with Rick Rizzs and Dave Sims

Today in Mariners history:

• 1979: Tom Paciorek goes 4-for-4 at the plate as the Mariners score a club record 16 runs, trouncing the Yankees by 15 runs.
• 1995: Randy Johnson and Edgar Martínez get starting assignments in the All-Star Game at the Ballpark at Arlington. Tino Martinez gets a pinch single late in the contest.
• Félix Hernández allowed 2 runs in 8.0 innings to record his 11th win of the season in a 3-2 win over the Oakland Athletics at Safeco Field. It was Felix’s 11th consecutive start allowing 2 or fewer runs in at least 7.0 innings, the longest streak by an American League pitcher since Gaylord Perry also had an 11-start streak in 1974.
• 2021: Cal Raleigh makes his MLB debut.