MILWAUKEE _ They did it in the first inning to set the tone. They did it again in the ninth inning when an extra insurance run was oh so important for a closer that was being asked to get six outs.
And this wasn't a random occurrence.
The duo of leadoff hitter Mallex Smith and No. 2 hitter J.P. Crawford have displayed the type of speed, athleticism and potential at the plate and on the bases to provide a few glimmers of hope amidst the many defeats in an already lost season.
The two youngsters, key to the their plans moving forward, gave the Mariners their first run and their final run in a 4-2 victory over the Brewers.
With Wednesday night's victory the Mariners secured a series victory over Milwaukee. It's their second series win in a row. They've now won six of their last seven games.
Roenis Elias worked the final two innings scoreless for his 10th save.
The Mariners gave their latest opener Matt Carasiti two early runs before he took the mound at Miller Park.
Smith roped a leadoff triple to the gap in right-center off Brewers starter Adrian Houser to start the game. Crawford followed with a RBI double almost in the same spot for a 1-0 lead. Crawford later came around to score on Omar Narvaez's single.
A little cushion was ideal for Carasiti, who was signed to a minor-league deal on June 7 after being released by the Chicago Cubs. After making one prior appearance since having his minor-league contract selected from Class AAA Tacoma, he got the opportunity to do what hadn't worked out so well for previous openers Cory Gearrin, Gerson Bautista and Tayler Scott.
For just the third time in eight tries, the Mariners got a scoreless inning out of their opener
In his 21st major-league appearance and first MLB start, Carasiti walked the first batter he faced, which is never a good thing. But he came back to get Christian Yelich to ground into a fielder's choice for an out, Mike Moustakas to fly out to the warning track in left and another fielder's choice for an out from Ryan Braun to end the inning.
Carasiti's scoreless frame lowered the ERA of Mariners' openers from 19.50 to 16.71. That's some improvement.
The Mariners tacked on another run in the second to provide a little more cushion for Wade LeBlanc to enter as the bulk or Costco pitcher. After a leadoff walk and a steal of second base by Dee Gordon, Crawford smacked a triple into deep right-center that made it 3-0.
LeBlanc cruised through his first four innings of "relief" work. But the Brewers finally figured him out in the fifth inning. Mike Moustakas golfed a low changeup that wasn't a strike over the wall for a leadoff solo homer. With one out, ex-Mariner Ben Gamel lifted a soft liner toward the left field foul line. Mariners left fielder Mac Williamson made a diving attempt for it, but came up just short. The ball bounced past him all the way to the wall. Gamel was able to race around the bases for an inside-the-park home run that cut the lead to 3-2.
