Michael Arroyo’s big-league firsts came with a twist in Seattle’s 19-1 blowout of the Athletics on Saturday at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, Calif.
The Mariners rookie picked up his first major league hit and later launched his first career home run, but neither swing came in unfamiliar surroundings. Arroyo had already logged a hit and gone deep at the same ballpark earlier this year while playing there with Triple-A Tacoma.
His first knock in the majors arrived in the top of the fourth, when he lined a leadoff double to left field off A’s right-hander Seth Johnson. Weston Wilson followed with a single to bring Arroyo home and push Seattle ahead 6-0.
The power came later, in the seventh inning. With two outs, Arroyo jumped on an inside sinker from A’s right-hander Joey Estes and drove it well over the left-field fence for a solo homer that made it 10-1. The ball left the bat at 103.6 mph and traveled 410 feet.
Arroyo wasn’t done. He added an RBI single in the eighth and a sacrifice fly in the ninth, finishing 3 for 4 with a walk, three RBIs and two runs scored.
Sutter Health Park is the usual home of the Sacramento River Cats, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, and Arroyo had been there last month with Tacoma, when he played six games and collected five hits and a home run.
Saturday was only Arroyo’s third appearance and second start since Seattle promoted him from Triple-A last Sunday. The Mariners list him as their third-ranked prospect and the No. 44 prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline.
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