The Seattle Mariners opened their 2023 season on Thursday with a matchup against the Cleveland Guardians. Unfortunately, their offense seemed to have forgotten that it wasn’t the 2022 postseason for much of the game.
Seattle was held scoreless in its last 23 innings of baseball last postseason in the Division Series against the Houston Astros. This included a 1-0 loss that went into the 18th inning that eliminated the Mariners from the playoffs.
Those offensive woes lasted through much of their Opening Day game against Cleveland. Through seven innings the score was deadlocked at a 0-0 tie. That all changed when Mariners first baseman Ty France hit a game-changing three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Ty France with a 3-run homer to give the Mariners a 3-0 lead over the Guardians in the 8th! ⚾️💣 pic.twitter.com/dTzkSACtEL
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) March 31, 2023
Mariners fans were well aware of their scoreless drought dating back to last season, rejoicing on social media after France’s timely home run.
Mariners score! my twitter reverse jinx> https://t.co/CusExS6zOp
— Anthony Dabbundo (@AnthonyDabbundo) March 31, 2023
TY FRANCE IS HIM
3-Run blast to give the Mariners the lead! pic.twitter.com/CxiYsOm2Sw
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 31, 2023
After some pitch-clock drama got the sold-out crowd roaring some more, Ty France rocks James Karinchak, Cleveland and the entire yard with a 3-run shot over the wall in right.
Mariners break out to 3-0 lead, bottom 8. And Andres Munoz has already been warming to pitch the 9th. pic.twitter.com/H9dn1mX9PX
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) March 31, 2023
If you want to be a real jerk, you can tell your friends that those were the first runs scored at home by the Mariners in 176 days (10/5/22).
— Corey Brock (@CoreyBrockMLB) March 31, 2023
The Mariners' first run(s) of 2023, courtesy of Ty France 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/syQ6mlhuUg
— Seattle Times Sports (@SeaTimesSports) March 31, 2023
https://twitter.com/BarnHasSpoken2/status/1641654675068911619
Perhaps even wilder is that this home run from France is actually the first time that Seattle has scored a run at home since October 5th of last season, which was a regular season game. All of their runs against both the Toronto Blue Jays and Houston Astros last postseason came on the road.
If you want to be a real jerk, you can tell your friends that those were the first runs scored at home by the Mariners in 176 days (10/5/22).
— Corey Brock (@CoreyBrockMLB) March 31, 2023
This clutch home run from France would be the deciding factor in the game. Mariners closer Andres Munoz then came into the game in the bottom of the ninth and closed the show to secure a 3-0 victory.
First of many of these here at the yard this Mariners season: Andres Munoz is in to save an M’s lead in the 9th. pic.twitter.com/e6h7xg45wL
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) March 31, 2023
Hopefully this massive home run from France makes it so the Mariners’ offense does not go through any more extended cold streaks at the plate this season.
[The Comeback on Twitter] Photo Credit: Root Sports Northwest
