Mariners vs. Royals Game Preview, June 30

It’s the anniversary of Cal Raleigh’s first big-league triple. It’d be great to see Big Dumper reprise that tonight, although if he wants to park one over the fence instead, no objections here. It’s Cal Night at the ballpark as the Mariners make a coordinated push to rake in as many All-Star votes for Big Dumper as they can. The Big Dumper dump truck is parked across the street at Victory Hall for your photo ops, and there’s a special Vote Cal section tonight with a t-shirt giveaway and a “VOTE” tifo or whatever the baseball equivalent of a tifo is.

The Mariners are also doing a cheeky lil’ twist to their walkup songs. I am so curious about who chose these, because I will eat a souvenir trident-up cup like a billygoat if Cole Young has ever heard of KC and the Sunshine Band. (Also: no Bootylicious? What are we even doing here, people). (My personal selection would be this one.)

Lineups:

It’s a night off for Luke Raley, as the Mariners are still trying to manage his health after he missed significant time with an oblique injury. Jorge Polanco is also out of the lineup again after banging his knee in Chicago.

If you haven’t been following Michael Wacha’s career arc, this is not the Wacha you might remember from his days in St. Louis. The Royals have taught Wacha some new tricks and the result has been a late-career renaissance that’s seen him post career-best numbers while at an age where other fringe pitchers are considering a move overseas. With an arsenal that’s more the sum of its parts, this is exactly the kind of pitcher Mariners hitters have struggled with this season.

News:

Justin Hollander offered his usual pre-homestand injury update and there’s not much to remark on, as most of the rehabbers are progressing along with no changes to their timelines. Bryce Miller is doing some light throwing but not off a mound, while Gregory Santos has progressed to 10-pitch mini-bullpens. Collin Snider continues to track towards a mid-July return. Tayler Saucedo is back from his injury and will join Tacoma to throw out of their bullpen.

The most significant update is Jorge Polanco, who banged his surgically repaired knee on a play at first in Chicago, which then swelled up. He’s available off the bench tonight and should be full go tomorrow.

Captain’s Log:

“I think I got more gray for sure. Jay kept checking underneath my hat after every game.”

— Dan Wilson on the tight games the team played in the series against Texas.

Game Information:

Game time: 6:40 PT

TV: ROOT Sports NW, with Aaron Goldsmith and Ryan Rowland-Smith, with Jen Mueller as field reporter

Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports, with Rick Rizzs and Gary Hill Jr.

Today in Mariners History:

• 1984: Dave Henderson hits a go-ahead home run in the seventh off Boston’s Oil Can Boyd to lead the Mariners to a 2-1 win at Fenway. Jim Beattie pitches a complete game for the Mariners.
• 1995: Although he goes hitless in a 10-2 drubbing by the Rangers, Edgar Martinez walks three times, pushing his OBP for June to .532. He finishes June with eight homers, an MLB-high 32 RBI, and a .402 average. For his efforts, he earns AL Player of the Month for the third time.
• 2014: James Jones went 4-for-5 with 3 stolen bases, becoming the second player in club history to record 4 hits and 3 steals in a game. He joins Ichiro (7/20/04 vs. BOS) who went 4-for-5 with a club-record tying 4 steals. Kyle Seager is also awarded Player of the Week honors (June 23-29), after batting .583 for the week with three doubles and two home runs, eight RBI and a 1.542 OPS. It was the second weekly award of Seager’s career.
• 2022: Cal Raleigh hits the first triple of his career and scores on an error to help lift the Mariners past the A’s, 8-6.