SEATTLE — Daulton Varsho homered and drove in four runs and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat Seattle 7-3 on Saturday night snap a six-game losing streak and deal a blow to the Mariners’ wild-card hopes.
Varsho’s two-run homer finished off a four-run fourth inning against starter Chris Flexen (11-6). Varsho added a two-run double in the sixth off Justus Sheffield, finishing 3 for 4 while batting ninth.
Arizona had lost 11 of 12 entering the game and snapped Seattle’s two-game winning streak. The Mariners had a chance to move into the second of two AL wild-card spots when the day started, but lost ground to Toronto and New York.
Humberto Castellanos (2-1) gave up a two-run home run to Mitch Haniger – his 300th – two batters into the game. But he settled down in his first road start and retired 10 straight at one point before allowing a solo homer to Jarred Kelenic in fourth.
He struck out four and scattered four hits over 5 1/3 innings.
Pavin Smith and Seth Beer each had an RBI in the decisive fourth inning and David Peralta also drove in a run.
EXTRA BASES
D-backs pitcher Caleb Smith has lost his appeal and will serve a 10-day suspension for the use of a foreign substance in a game.
Smith is the second major league pitcher to serve a suspension under umpires’ increased emphasis on enforcing the banned-substance rules. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said Smith had his appeal hearing Sept. 7 and is not with the team on its current trip, which continued Saturday night in Seattle.
“He elected to fly back to Arizona,” Lovullo said. “We’ll stay within the ground rules as to what he is able to do, but my thoughts are that he is going to continue to remain in the excellent shape he’s in and be ready on that 11th day.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Diamondbacks: RF Cole Calhoun (left hamstring) participated in five live at-bats and started his baserunning program on Saturday. Calhoun has been out since Aug. 11 when he injured his hamstring. He had surgery on the same one in April. … RHP Merrill Kelly (COVID-19) will throw 25 pitches in a bullpen session Monday and will be evaluated for a return. … RHP Tyler Clippard (COVID-19) threw a 25-pitch bullpen session and is “feeling better and better,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “The symptoms he felt have decreased substantially.”
UP NEXT
Diamondbacks: LHP Tyler Gilbert (1-2, 3.12) makes his sixth career start and second against the Mariners in the series finale. He earned a quality start against Seattle on Sept. 5, giving up three earned runs in seven innings.
Mariners: LHP Yusei Kikuchi (7-8, 4.32) tries to stop a two-game losing streak in his first career start against the Diamondbacks.