Pro Sports

Sheffield shuts down Rockies for 1st W as Mariners win 5-3

Posted August 09, 2020 7:00 am

By CHRIS TALBOTT

CORRECTS TO STARTING PITCHER - Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Justus Sheffield throws against the Colorado Rockies in the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) The Associated Press

SEATTLE (AP) - Justus Sheffield pitched six shutout innings for his first major league win, Dylan Moore hit a two-run homer and the Seattle Mariners beat the Colorado Rockies 5-3 on Sunday.

Sheffield (1-2), one of three pitchers 24 or younger in the Mariners' starting rotation, gave up four hits without a walk and struck out seven in his longest stint of the season. He worked his way out of a jam with a strikeout to end the fifth, then sat down two more Rockies in the sixth before reaching his pitch limit.

'œThat was my main thing: Get to two strikes as quick as possible and put them away,'ť Sheffield said. 'œI really didn't want to mess around.'ť

Sheffield never reached a 2-0 count and landed 16 first-pitch strikes against the 22 batters he faced. The lefty was especially effective with his slider.

'œIt's really good,'ť Seattle manager Scott Servais said. 'œIt's a wipeout pitch.'ť

Charlie Blackmon extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a first-inning double for Colorado. He also got help from a strange bounce past second baseman Dee Gordon for a single in the fourth.

The loss snapped a three-game win streak for the Rockies, who had won seven of eight in August - including two straight over the Mariners. The defeat also ended a six-game interleague win streak.

Colorado starter German Marquez (2-2) struck out four and walked one in seven innings. He gave up six hits, including Moore's third home run.

Fielding and throwing errors by third baseman Chris Owings on Kyle Seager's routine grounder helped end Marquez's outing as the Mariners added three unearned runs in the seventh to avoid a series sweep. Evan White, Tim Lopes and Gordon each drove in a run.

'œIf you win series, you're going to have a good season,'ť Rockies manager Bud Black said. 'œWe've done that so far. If we play good baseball and we let our talent show, we're going to win games. If we continue to pitch the way we have been, our bats will come around.'ť

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rockies: Black gave slumping 3B Nolan Arenado the day off to rest.

Mariners: Hot-hitting C Austin Nola was an unexpected scratch from the lineup while continuing to deal with a swollen wrist. Servais said Nola was having trouble swinging the bat without pain after injuring his wrist Friday.

UP NEXT

Rockies: RHP Jon Gray (0-1, 3.31 ERA) takes the mound Monday at home against Arizona.

Mariners: RHP Justin Dunn (0-1, 6.43) makes his third start at Texas.

___

More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Seattle Mariners outfielders Kyle Lewis, center, Tim Lopes (10) and Dylan Moore (25) leap together in celebration after the team beat the Colorado Rockies in a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) The Associated Press

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher German Marquez throws against the Seattle Mariners in the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) The Associated Press

Seattle Mariners' Dylan Moore, top, follows J.P. Crawford around the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) The Associated Press

Seattle Mariners' Dylan Moore (25) is congratulated by J.P. Crawford after Moore's two-run home run against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) The Associated Press

Colorado Rockies' Ryan McMahon spins around after striking out to end the top of the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) The Associated Press

Colorado Rockies' Charlie Blackmon, right, watches the path of his single as Seattle Mariners catcher Joe Hudson, center, and umpire Cory Blaser look on in the fourth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) The Associated Press

Colorado Rockies' Trevor Story, left, looks at Seattle Mariners first baseman Evan White after grounding out in the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) The Associated Press

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