Rob Refsnyder launched a go-ahead pinch-hit solo home run in the ninth inning after a successful ABS challenge, securing a 3-2 victory for the Seattle Mariners over the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. The win completed a three-game sweep for Seattle. The Mariners' bullpen delivered crucial relief across the series.
In a dramatic ninth inning, Refsnyder overturned a called third strike with an ABS challenge and then hit a 412-foot drive at 106.6 mph off a Cardinals pitcher. This solo homer gave Seattle a 3-2 lead, which held as Jose A. Ferrer earned his first save with Seattle by pitching a scoreless ninth. Starter Emerson Hancock worked six innings, allowing two solo homers and seven hits but stranding runners each time to keep the game close. Hancock credited his ability to slow down in high-pressure moments, knowing the bullpen would follow. Reliever Ferrer, through an interpreter, emphasized focus on putting up zeros on the board. The bullpen shone throughout the series, throwing 12 scoreless innings over three games except for two runs on one swing Saturday. Gabe Speier bridged from the sixth, and Eduard Bazardo handled the eighth cleanly Sunday, with Andrés Muñoz and Matt Brash unavailable. Manager Dan Wilson praised the group's seasoning and trust in their roles. Catcher Cal Raleigh called them a massive part of the team, while Refsnyder noted confidence stemming from coaching. Seattle entered St. Louis with one road win this season but left with three more, all decided by two runs or fewer: 3-2 Friday, 11-9 Saturday after comebacks, and 3-2 Sunday.
