Montas struggles as Mariners handle Reds
SEATTLE — Jorge Polanco and Mitch Haniger homered, and Seattle’s slumping offense produced a season high in runs as the Mariners beat the Cincinnati Reds 9-3 Monday night.
The Mariners had their highest scoring game since August 26, 2023, when they scored 13 times against the Kansas City Royals. Seattle entered Monday’s game batting .204.
George Kirby (2-2) returned to form for Seattle, allowing two runs on five hits with six strikeouts and no walks in six innings. The 26-year-old right-hander had yielded 13 runs over his last 71/3 innings pitched.
Polanco, acquired from the Minnesota Twins in the offseason, hit his second home run in two days. J.P. Crawford and Julio Rodríguez reached on walks by Frankie Montas, and Polanco followed with a three-run shot that capped a three-run first inning for Seattle.
Montas (2-2) lasted only two innings, surrendering five runs on two homers with five walks. He struggled with command,
throwing 34 strikes out of 66 pitches.
Haniger chased Montas, belting a two-run homer in
the third that gave Seattle a 5-1 lead. Montas was replaced
in the bottom of the third by Nick Martinez.
In his first MLB game after being recalled from Triple-a Tacoma, Jonatan Clase, the Mariners’ No. 10 prospect, recorded his first MLB hit and RBI in the sixth with a single to left. He nearly had his first big league hit in the fourth, but was robbed by Elly De La Cruz, who made a fantastic sliding catch in shallow left field.
Jeimer Candelario and Jake Fraley had solo homers for the Reds. Fraley also added a check swing RBI double in the fourth, going 2 for 4 with the two RBIS.
Along with an early homer in the third, Haniger added an RBI double down the leftfield line that extended Seattle’s lead in the seventh. It was followed by a sacrifice fly from Ty France and an RBI triple by Luke Raley.
“I’ve watched them enough,