Baseball

Canzone’s Late Homer Lifts Mariners Over Dodgers in Thrilling 7-6 Finish

Los Angeles Dodgers

In a dramatic showdown at Dodger Stadium, Dominic Canzone’s go-ahead home run in the eighth inning propelled the Seattle Mariners to a 7-6 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. This marked the Mariners’ first win against the Dodgers in five years and their first in Los Angeles since 2009, electrifying the crowd in the ballpark that hadn’t seen action since before the All-Star break.

The game was tightly contested, with the score tied at five when Canzone stepped up to the plate with Julio Rodríguez on first base and one out. He connected perfectly with an 82-mph slider from Alex Vesia, sending the ball soaring 414 feet to center field to clinch the lead for Seattle. The Dodgers, who had some close calls, found themselves with Shohei Ohtani on third and Max Muncy on second in the ninth inning as they sought to tie or win the game. However, Mariners reliever Andrés Muñoz held firm, sealing the victory for Seattle.

“It’s just good to get back home and get back into this routine,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed before the game. The excitement was palpable as the Dodgers faced a team they hadn’t seen for quite some time, hoping for a strong series.

Throughout the game, Seattle’s offense shone, racking up 10 hits and hitting five home runs, while the Dodgers managed 13 hits and only two homers. Canzone led the charge for the Mariners with a pair of home runs, the first being a solo shot that traveled 433 feet to center in the sixth inning. Alongside Canzone, Rodríguez, Cal Raleigh, and Rob Refsnyder each contributed a home run to the Mariners’ impressive tally.

On the pitching front, Mariners’ starter Luis Castillo had a rocky outing, allowing five runs and 11 hits over five innings. Conversely, Dodgers lefty Justin Wrobleski, fresh off a strong performance in Philadelphia, struggled as well, giving up five runs and four homers in six innings.

Despite the loss, both Ohtani and Muncy had standout performances. Ohtani opened the scoring with his 10th leadoff homer of the season, marking the 34th of his nine-year MLB career and tying him with Davey Lopes for second-most leadoff homers in Dodgers history. Muncy also made headlines, launching a 430-foot homer in the fifth inning, which tied him with Eric Karros for the most home runs at Dodger Stadium, totaling 130.

In roster news, Kiké Hernández made his return after a lengthy absence due to an oblique strain, and he expressed relief at being back on the field. “I feel pretty good… trying to keep my 1.000 batting average going,” Hernández said, reflecting on his eagerness to contribute.

Looking ahead, Edwin Díaz is set to return, with plans for his activation coinciding with a bobblehead giveaway, while Will Smith has begun baseball activities pain-free after his own injury. However, the status of Ohtani as a pitcher remains uncertain, with Roberts indicating that a ramp-up period is necessary as he works back into form.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.

Carlos Ramirez is a passionate sports journalist with a focus on soccer and baseball. His love for the game is evident in every article, where he combines detailed analysis with vibrant storytelling. Carlos’s multicultural background allows him to bring a fresh, global perspective to 21Sports.com, making his pieces resonate with a diverse audience. When not covering sports, Carlos enjoys playing in local soccer leagues and exploring new travel destinations.

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