Canadian pitcher wins 2nd straight for Seattle
Mariners hold off Braves 6-5 in Atlanta as call-up delivers another victory
ATLANTA — Canada’s Andrew Albers is making up for lost time.
After going 1,463 days between big league victories, he now has two wins in less than a week.
“I try not to count that high,” Albers quipped after working into the sixth inning to lead the Seattle Mariners past the Atlanta Braves 6-5 on Monday night. “I knew it had been a while.”
The 31-year-old left-hander from North Battleford, Sask., sounded more excited about the first hit and RBI of his career — in his first big league at-bat, a bouncer off the pitching hand of Atlanta’s Mike Foltynewicz that wound up being an infield hit.
After admiring the ball in his locker, Albers (2-0) quickly pointed out he also has two sacrifice bunts, leaving him with a career average of 1.000.
Albers beat his former organization, having spent most of the season at the Braves’ Triple-A club. He went 12-3 but never got a call to the big leagues.
Instead, Albers was dealt to the Mariners for cash on Aug. 11. He was called up by Seattle to make a start four days later, working six strong innings in a 3-1 win over Baltimore.
This time, he surrendered six hits and three earned runs in five-plus innings, helping to bolster Seattle’s injury-riddled rotation.
Felix Hernandez and James Paxton are set to begin throwing workouts this week, a step toward returning to Seattle’s rotation.
Hernandez (5-4, 4.28 ERA) has battled shoulder issues much of the season.
Paxton (12-3, 2.78 ERA) went on the DL with a strained pectoral muscle on Aug. 10.