Seattle Mariners' Woo keeps remarkable run going with another gem

SEATTLE – After a rough road trip that saw their starting pitching struggle, the Seattle Mariners were in need of vintage outing from their starting rotation. They got just that on Friday night from Bryan Woo.

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Woo continued his remarkable run of durability during one of his best outings of the year, holding a red-hot Athletics squad to a only one run, one hit and two walks while fanning seven batters over seven efficient innings, needing just 88 pitches to get through the outing.

“I felt it was important to come in and set the tone after such a bad road trip,” Woo said after his club snapped a season-high five-game losing streak. “If you get off to a bad start today, it leaks a little bit, and (I) just wanted to make sure I came out with good energy and turned the page. Make sure the road trip’s over and (we) get to take advantage of a homestand.”

It was Woo’s 25th straight outing with at least six innings pitched to start the season, which is a club record. He also tied Hall of Famer Cy Young for fifth all-time with 25 straight outings with at least six innings pitched and two or fewer walks allowed.

“Bryan Woo again was just fantastic,” manager Dan Wilson said. “The first inning homer was really all he gave up. He just did what he does. A lot of soft contact, kept them really quiet for the rest of ball game while he was in there. It was just another outstanding effort. And then going into that seventh inning, that was impressive again.

“You can’t say enough about what he has done and how consistent he has been.”

Woo’s 159 innings pitched this season are fourth in MLB.

The Mariners’ offense did just enough to back Woo (11-7 record), hitting a trio of solo home runs to earn a 3-2 win.

Woo’s only real mistake of the night came early when he left a fastball in the middle of the plate to slugger Brent Rooker, who deposited the pitch into the Mariners’ bullpen for 1-0 lead with two outs in the first inning. But the Athletics wouldn’t get much of anything against Woo the rest of the way.

The right-hander didn’t allow another hit and retired the 16 of the next 18 batters he faced before the leadoff batter in the seventh reached on an error. Woo was still able to face the minimum in the seventh with a flyout and an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.

“I got to do a better job of coming out and not just like being OK with giving up runs early,” Woo said. “I know it’s going to happen, but it’s just a discipline thing I think. But you got to just be able to turn the page and just keep making pitches, and luckily I was able to do that.”

Woo also showed off some glovework during his outing. The former high school shortstop made a nice play to get Brett Harris at first base on a bunt attempt in the third inning. In the fourth, he made another solid play on a grounder in front of the mound towards the third base line and snagged a soft liner back to the mound for the first two outs of the inning.

The start was a turnaround of sorts for Woo, who had dominated the Athletics throughout his career until recently. He surrendered five runs in each of his past two meetings with A’s, which includes allowing four home runs July 30.

“My last two games against them have not gone how I wanted. So, definitely wanted to get off to a good start tonight. A little bit of a revenge game,” Woo said. “You give up games like that, runs like that, the last two times facing them, you go out with a little bit more of a chip on your shoulder to make sure that you do your job tonight. So, I’m glad I was able to bounce back.”

Seattle Mariners’ Woo keeps remarkable run going with another gem

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