SEATTLE (AP) — Randy Arozarena hit a three-run homer against his former team, Bryce Miller allowed two hits and tied a career high with 10 strikeouts in seven innings, and the Seattle Mariners beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-1 on Monday night.
Dominican Jorge Polanco added a solo homer, his 13th of the season, and backup infielder Leo Rivas added a two-out RBI single as the Mariners improved to 3-1 under new manager Dan Wilson.
Miller’s 10 strikeouts matched a mark he’s reached four times in his career, most recently in April against the Atlanta Braves. Miller (10-7) retired batters in order in five of his seven innings.
Josh Lowe had the only hit against Miller with a solo homer in the second inning and a single in the fifth.
Arozarena was acquired from the Rays in late July before the trade deadline in hopes of adding length to Seattle’s batting order. After a solid start, he had struggled of late and was on a 4-for-39 slump with just one extra-base hit and one RBI in his previous 11 games entering Monday.
For the Mariners, Cuban-Mexican Randy Arozarena went 1-for-3 with one run scored and three RBIs. Dominican Jorge Polanco went 1-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI, Julio Rodriguez went 0-for-4 with one run scored. Venezuelan Leo Rivas went 1-for-3 with one RBI.