The Seattle Mariners beat the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night a score of 6-1. The win was the Mariners seventh straight as they remain 2.0 games back in the American League wild card picture.
At 62-52, they are a season-high 10 games over .500. In addition to being 2.0 games back in the wild card, they are just 5.5 games back of the Texas Rangers in the American League West.
The M's got a crucial two-run homer from Cal Raleigh in the win but they also got an RBI double from first baseman Ty France, who was 2-for-3.
France also got hit by a pitch, joining some painful baseball history.
Per @MarinersPR
Ty France recorded his 20th hit-by-pitch of the season, becoming the 9th player in MLB history to record 3-consecutive 20+ HBP seasons.
France was traded to the Mariners from the Padres in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and immediately became a regular for the team.
He was hit 27 times in 2021, 21 times in 2022 and the 20 thus far this year.
While getting hit is painful, it's a major reason why France has been able to keep his on-base percentage afloat in a down offensive year for him. He's hitting just .254 this season and has only eight home runs and 45 RBI.
His average has dropped each of the last three years and he's hit at least 18 home runs in each of the last two years, a mark he seems unlikely to hit this season.
The Mariners open up a series against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night.
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