Mariners 5-2 Padres (September 11, 2024) Match Report

SEATTLE – Based on his warm-up, Bryan Woo wasn't sure what kind of performance he was about to perform.

In the end he flirted with perfection.

“I wasn't feeling so good catching. I wasn't feeling so good in the bullpen, just kind of confused. And then you get out there and it just clicks,” the Seattle pitcher said.

Woo pitched a perfect game until the seventh inning, Luke Raley hit a two-run single and the Mariners beat the San Diego Padres 5-2 on Wednesday night.

JP Crawford hit a two-run double and Seattle moved to within 3 1/2 games of first-place Houston in the AL West by tying the two-game series with the Padres.

Woo (8-2) retired his first 19 batters before Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a home run to left field with one out in the seventh inning. The right-hander's fastball caught too far off the plate and Tatis was able to keep it fair down the line to complete the perfect game, no-hitter and shutout in one hit.

“It was a good pitch, a good swing. Hats off to him,” Woo said.

Until then, Woo was overwhelming. The second-year pitcher wore specially designed shoes with the image of wrestling star Ric Flair and relied on his fastball at the top of the strike zone to overwhelm the Padres.

In six innings, Woo managed four strikeouts and never managed a three-ball count. The closest San Diego came to a hit was Manny Machado's line drive that was caught by diving left fielder Randy Arozarena.

“His arm position, the ball bounces. He has a nice, compact throw, an upward swing and the ball got to the guys,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said.

Woo was replaced in the seventh inning after allowing a double to Jurickson Profar and a walk to Jake Cronenworth. Xander Bogaerts hit an RBI single to score Profar, but the Mariners were able to avoid further damage.

Andrés Muñoz made his 20th save in the ninth inning.

“What they do offensively is difficult and I think after the first and second innings you could tell something special was happening. He had really good stuff,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said.

Woo pitched most of the night with a lead after Seattle scored three in the third, thanks in part to an error by Cronenworth, who dropped a ball that was eligible for a double play at second base. Cal Raleigh had an RBI single and Raley scored two runs on a base hit with two outs.

In the sixth inning, Crawford gained some ground by hitting a 3-2 pitch into the right field corner, allowing Raley and Justin Turner to score.

Seattle nearly scored another home run in the seventh inning, but Tatis robbed Arozarena of a home run with a diving catch off the right-field wall. Tatis said he was hoping to steal the home run from Julio Rodríguez after the young Mariners star robbed him of a home run last year.

“I said, 'I wanted Julio, but I'm sorry, it was your turn,'” Tatis said.

San Diego starter Michael King (12-9) pitched five innings and allowed just one earned run, striking out six players but losing for the third time in four starts.

Squad changes

San Diego catcher Luis Campusano was sent to Triple-A El Paso due to a lack of playing time in the major leagues. Campusano, who was San Diego's catcher on Opening Day, fell behind Kyle Higashioka and Elias Díaz. Outfielder Brandon Lockridge and LHP Tom Cosgrove were recalled from the minor leagues. LHP Martin Perez was placed on the paternity list.

Next

Padres: After a day off, San Diego opens a three-game series in San Francisco on Friday.

Mariners: Begin a four-game series with Texas on Thursday. Bryce Miller (11-8, 3.18 ERA) will start the opener after throwing six scoreless innings in his last start.

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