PHOENIX — Rookie Jarred Kelenic hit a go-ahead single in the 10th inning after earlier launching a two-run homer to lead the Seattle Mariners past the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-5 on Friday night.
Seattle blew a 5-1 lead after Arizona scored four runs in the seventh but recovered to win for the fourth time in five games as it tries to stay in the AL playoff race.
They’re currently four games behind the Boston Red Sox for the final wild-card spot.
It was a good game for the 22-year-old Kelenic, a top prospect who has struggled at the plate during his first season in the big leagues. He came into the game batting just .153 in 235 at-bats but hit his eighth homer of the season to right center in the sixth.
Kelenic’s go-ahead single off Taylor Clarke (1-2) landed just inside the left field foul line and scored Kyle Seager, who started the 10th on second base.
Yohan Ramirez worked the 10th for the Mariners for his second save. Justus Sheffield (7-8) pitched a scoreless ninth. Seattle improved to 13-4 in extra innings.
Seattle starter Tyler Anderson gave up three runs over six innings, allowing four hits and a walk while striking out five.
The 31-year-old Anderson continued to excel since being acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates at the trade deadline. He’s pitched at least five innings and given up three or fewer runs in all seven starts with Seattle.
Seattle led 5-1 after six innings — mostly because of two-run homers by Mitch Haniger and Kelenic — before Arizona rallied to tie. It was Haniger’s 30th homer of the season.
Christian Walker and Andy Young led off the seventh back-to-back doubles to pull within 5-2, which knocked Anderson out of the game. Sean Doolittle gave up an RBI single to Josh Rojas and then Paul Sewald gave up a two-run single to Nick Ahmed that tied the game at 5.
Sewald eventually wiggled out of a bases-loaded jam by striking out Walker.
Madison Bumgarner started for the Diamondbacks and gave up five runs over six innings. The veteran left-handed struggled with his command, walking five and hitting a batter. He gave up five hits and struck out five.
