Naylor grand slam powers Mariners past Orioles, 6-3

Josh Naylor turned a tense fifth inning into a Seattle runway, launching a grand slam to right field that sent the Mariners past the Baltimore Orioles 6-3 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The blast, Naylor’s seventh home run of the season, came during a five-run inning and put Seattle ahead 5-1 in the opener of a four-game series.

The swing mattered because it fit a larger pattern. Seattle has now won 10 of its last 13 games, and the Mariners entered the night with a 2.26 ERA over their previous 13 games, the best mark in Major League Baseball over that stretch. Randy Arozarena added three hits and drove in a run, giving the lineup another productive night and showing why Seattle’s recent surge has started to look less like a hot streak and more like a team with multiple ways to win.

Emerson Hancock supplied the kind of start that makes a big inning stand up, allowing one run over five innings to earn the victory. Baltimore’s Trey Gibson took the loss in an emergency start after Chris Bassitt was placed on the 15-day injured list with low back discomfort and Gibson was recalled the same day from Triple-A Norfolk. The Orioles could not capitalize on enough opportunities, finishing 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position, and their three-game losing streak was their first since they were swept at Tampa Bay from May 18-20.

Seattle’s margin also reflected the kinds of details that often decide a close game before the scoreline fully shows it. Major League Baseball said the Mariners used two ABS challenges that overturned Orioles runs, helping keep Baltimore from turning the game back into a one-run contest. By the time the fifth-inning surge settled, Seattle had built enough breathing room to withstand the late push and protect a victory that improved the Mariners to 35-32.

For Baltimore, now 31-36, the loss was another missed chance in a season already demanding cleaner execution. For Seattle, it was another sign that Naylor’s grand slam was not just a highlight, but a symbol of a team finding a more durable edge.