The Mariners’ Jarred Kelenic cracks his bat as he reacts to striking out against the Marlins during the seventh inning of a game Wednesday in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

The Mariners’ Jarred Kelenic cracks his bat as he reacts to striking out against the Marlins during the seventh inning of a game Wednesday in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Sanchez makes game-saving catch, Marlins hold off Mariners

Seattle tries to mount a rally in the ninth, but falls to Miami 4-1.

Associated Press

SEATTLE — Miami’s Jesús Sánchez made a leaping, game-saving catch at the wall in the bottom of the ninth inning to rob Seattle’s Eugenio Suárez of a grand slam, and the Marlins avoided a three-game sweep with a 4-1 win over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night.

Seattle loaded the bases with one out in the ninth inning against A.J. Puk thanks to a pair of errors by Luis Arraez. Suárez lined a 2-1 pitch from Puk deep to right field, but Sánchez quickly tracked his way to the wall and made a leaping grab and pulled back the potential game-tying homer.

Ty France scored on the play to break up the shutout, but Cal Raleigh lined out to Sánchez to end the game.

Sánchez’s defensive gem made a winner out of 20-year-old rookie Eury Pérez, who dazzled in just his seventh start. Pérez limited the Mariners to just a pair of hits and pitched into the sixth for the first time. Pérez (4-1) struck out six and walked only one and helped Miami’s pitching recover after getting knocked around in the first two games of the series.

Jorge Soler hit his 20th homer of the season hitting a line drive out to deep right-center field off Seattle starter Luis Castillo leading off the sixth inning. Soler hit just 13 homers in 72 games last season for the Marlins, but reached the 20-homer mark for the third time in his career.

Arraez’s chase of .400 ran into a roadblock against Seattle pitching. Arraez went 0-for-3 on Wednesday with a walk and hit by pitch, and was hitless in 12 at-bats in the series. It’s the first time this season Arraez has gone hitless in three straight games.

Pérez had some good fortune also, as Seattle batters had three long fly balls that on a warmer night may have carried out of the park. Teoscar Hernández and Suárez twice had fly balls caught on the warning track or at the wall off Pérez.

Castillo (4-5) limited damage overall considering he struggled badly with his control from the outset. Castillo labored through 5.2 innings, giving up only two hits and two runs, but matched his career-high with six walks.

Jonathan Davis scored on a wild pitch from Castillo in the third inning, and the Marlins added a pair in the eighth on Nick Fortes’ RBI double and Davis’ sacrifice fly.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Marlins: Injured OF Jazz Chisholm Jr. took batting practice on the field before Wednesday’s game as he continues to recover from a right big toe injury. Manager Skip Schumaker said Chisolm would be re-evaluated Thursday and that this was the first step in eventually getting back on the field.

Mariners: RHP Penn Murfee is seeking a second opinion on his pitching elbow focused on a possible nerve issue and his ulnar collateral ligament. Manager Scott Servais said he expected Murfee to be out an extended period.

UP NEXT

Marlins: Following a travel day, Miami opens a weekend series in Washington. RHP Sandy Alcantara (2-5, 4.75) starts looking to follow up on his last outing when he pitched seven innings of one-run ball vs. the White Sox.

Mariners: After an off day, Seattle opens a three-game series with the White Sox on Friday. Rookie RHP Bryan Woo (0-1, 10.80) starts for the Mariners against RHP Michael Kopech (3-5, 4.03) for Chicago.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Marysville-Getchell senior Abdala Hassani dribbles upfield before scoring his first of two goals in the Chargers' 2-0 win against Snohomish in Marysville, Washington on April 25, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Abdala Hassani scores twice for Marysville-Getchell boys soccer

Laith Al-Bahathly gets shutout in first varsity start, a 2-0 win against Snohomish.

Prep roundup for Friday, April 25

Eight area hammer throwers place top 10 at Eason Invitational.

Prep boys soccer roundup for Friday, April 25

Edmonds-Woodway hands Lake Stevens its first loss of the season.

Kamiak’s Emma Stansfield slides into home to score after the ball misses the glove of Jackson’s Yanina Sherwood during the 4A district championship on Friday, May 17, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep softball roundup for Friday, April 25

Kamiak closes in on Glacier Peak’s league lead on Emma Stansfield’s late home run.

Lake Stevens’ Aspen Alexander shouts after tallying the tying run in a win over Jackson on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Prep baseball roundup for Friday, April 25

Aspen Alexander hits triple, HR to lead another Lake Stevens comeback.

Offensive lineman Grey Zabel participates in a drill during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 2, 2025, in Indianapolis. (Stacy Revere / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Seahawks draft much-needed offensive lineman in first round

Seattle GM John Schneider stays at pick 18, drafts Grey Zabel of North Dakota State

Horses dash from the starting gate in the 2024 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs. This year's Mile is scheduled for Aug. 17. (Photo courtesy of Doug Parry)
Emerald Downs opens Sunday

The Auburn track looks to benefit from California closures.

Lake Stevens’ Julian Wilson runs out of the box on a base knock during a game on Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Prep baseball roundup for Thursday, April 24

A late comeback nets Lake Stevens a key league win.

Michael Arroyo of the Everett AquaSox is surrounded by teammates after his walk-off home run against Vancouver at Funko Filed on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Shari Sommerfeld, Everett AquaSox)
Arroyo hits walkoff homer for AquaSox

The Everett AquaSox defeated the Vancouver Canadians 4-3 in walk-off… Continue reading

Zabel plans to bring farm toughness to Seattle

True to his on-the-farm nature, Grey Zabel was rising early, grinding hard… Continue reading

Prep roundup for Thursday, April 24

Doubles domination powers Kamiak girls tennis to win.

Prep softball roundup for Thursday, April 24

Walkoff single powers Arlington to comeback win.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.