Mariners Beat Rays 8-2 After Hancock Exits With Bruised Finger

The Seattle Mariners defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 8-2 on July 12 to snap a five-game losing streak. Starting pitcher Emerson Hancock left the game in the second inning after a 107.2 mph one-hopper from Yandy Diaz struck his pitching hand. Hancock threw out Diaz at first base on the play.

He then retired Jonathan Aranda on a flyout and struck out Junior Caminero before issuing a two-out walk to Victor Mesa Jr. on his 19th pitch and exiting. X-rays on his palm and middle finger were negative, and Hancock told reporters his finger is bruised.

"It was just instinct," Hancock said. "It's right there, it's close, sometimes you can kind of absorb those. " He added that he could not get loose afterward and left to avoid hindering the team. Jose Ferrer needed one pitch to finish the second inning and struck out two in a scoreless third.

Four relievers followed, with Andres Munoz closing the ninth. Seattle scored three runs in the second on Victor Robles' bases-loaded sacrifice fly and J.P. Crawford's two-out double. Weston Wilson hit a solo homer in the fourth, his first as a Mariner.

Randy Arozarena added an 11th homer of the season later in the inning. Buddy Kennedy and Crawford hit back-to-back doubles in the ninth. Ian Seymour allowed six runs in 3 1/3 innings for Tampa Bay. Jonathan Aranda hit his 14th homer in the eighth.

Tampa Bay entered the All-Star break at 57-37, while Seattle stood at 48-49 after losing three straight to the Marlins at the start of a 1-5 trip. ESPN reported the details of the game.