Jorge Polanco, Mariners bid to subdue Astros again

No matter where Jorge Polanco plays in the field or is listed in the batting order, he just keeps hitting.

Polanco’s two-run single with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning Monday night proved decisive as the Seattle Mariners defeated the visiting Houston Astros 4-3.

The three-game series between the American League West rivals continues Tuesday night in Seattle.

Polanco missed the previous two games in San Francisco with soreness in his surgically repaired left knee and in his side, the latter caused by a swing Friday in the same at-bat in which he later homered. He served as the Mariners’ designated hitter for the first time this season on Monday and moved up to the No. 2 spot in the order.

His 105-mph liner off the glove of Astros reliever Bryan Abreu and into center field scored Dylan Moore and Miles Mastrobuoni with the tying and go-ahead runs.

“I was just trying to keep it simple and hit a good pitch,” said Polanco, who is batting .417 with an on-base plus slugging percentage of 1.107.

Polanco would be third in the majors in batting if not for sitting out two games while on the paternity list and two more over the weekend.

“He’s a veteran, he’s been around,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “He has the ability to not speed up his at-bats and is able to do what he wants to do. … He worked that at-bat so well and was able to get the barrel to it.”

The Mariners got Polanco in a trade with Minnesota before the 2024 season to solve their hole at second base, which they had struggled to adequately fill since dealing Robinson Cano to the New York Mets in 2018.

Polanco batted a career-low .213 last year while battling a knee issue that required offseason surgery.

When the Mariners failed to find a third baseman this winter, they circled back and signed Polanco to a one-year, $7 million deal for a position he had only played 24 games at over 11 seasons.

“He has hit very well in this league for a long time. … last year clearly there were some physical things he was dealing with,” Wilson said. “Right now he’s in a good spot … we talk about solid contact a lot and he’s making a ton of solid contact.”

The Mariners could use Polanco’s bat as leadoff hitter Victor Robles was placed on the 10-day injured list with a dislocated left shoulder sustained while making a spectacular catch Sunday.

The Astros spoiled a strong start by right-hander Hayden Wesneski, acquired as part of the trade that sent outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs in the offseason.

Wesneski went seven innings and allowed two runs on three hits, with no walks and five strikeouts.

“He was really, really good,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “Seven strong innings with no walks … he did a good job. He was in the zone early and once he was ahead (in the count), got some swings and misses. He had everything working for him.”

The Mariners are scheduled to start right-hander Luis Castillo (1-1, 3.00 ERA) on Tuesday. He is 2-2 with a 3.69 ERA in six career starts versus Houston.

The Astros have yet to name their pitcher as lefty Framber Valdez has yet to recover from an illness he’s been battling.

The Astros transferred starter Luis Garcia (right elbow inflammation) to the 60-day IL on Monday and Spencer Arrighetti sustained a broken thumb on his pitching hand when drilled by a line drive in batting practice.

“I didn’t hear about (Arrighetti’s injury) until after the game,” Wesneski said. “I saw he looked upset. To hear the news, that’s really bad luck.”

–Field Level Media