Mariners use big homers from Luke Raley and Justin Turner to thump Phillies 10-2

SEATTLE (AP) — Luke Raley hit a three-run homer into the upper deck, Justin Turner’s grand slam capped Seattle’s seven-run second inning and the Mariners thumped the Philadelphia Phillies 10-2 on Friday night.

The Mariners handed Philadelphia its season-high fifth straight loss. Combined with Atlanta’s fourth straight win, the Phillies lead in the NL East is down to five games, the smallest Philadelphia’s advantage has been since May 28.

Given a wealth of offensive support, Seattle starter Bryan Woo cruised through a career-high seven shutout innings allowing just five hits. Woo (5-1) struck out six, walked none and left to a standing ovation after Bryson Stott’s fly out ended the seventh. It was the 14th time this season a Seattle starter pitched at least seven inning allowing zero runs.

“It's been a tough year watching the rest of the staff do what they've been doing and staying healthy and just being horses,” said Woo, who has faced two stints on the injured list. “That's all I'm really trying to do is just contribute and be that for the team.”

In just his fifth career starter, Phillies’ righty Tyler Phillips didn’t make it through the second inning after he threw a complete-game shutout in his last outing and suffered his first loss.

“I think because of the complete game, stuff was down, command was down," Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. "That’s what I chalk it up to. He’ll get another start.”

Seattle got started immediately when Victor Robles hit the first pitch of the game from Phillips an estimated 426 feet into the left field seats to give the Mariners a 1-0 lead. It was the first of three homers allowed by Phillips, each getting progressively louder.

Raley became just the seventh player to reach the upper deck in right field at the stadium with his homer in the second that traveled an estimated 459 feet. Raley was the first player to reach that portion of the ballpark – which opened 25 years ago — since Shohei Ohtani’s 463-foot blast during the 2021 season.

“That ball went a long way. I want to know what that feels like and I know that I never will,” Turner said.

Raley slumped badly in July, hitting just .129 and had just five extra-base hits.

“I think what I've been fighting is my timing more than anything and to get one like that to right field, you know you're back on time,” Raley said. “Just got to keep building off it.”

And while the crowd was still buzzing about Raley’s homer, Turner hit the fourth grand slam of his career and his first homer with the Mariners after being traded to Seattle last Monday.

Seattle has now scored six runs or more in six of its last seven games following a miserable stretch where its offense was absent and the Mariners managed just 11 runs over six games. Mitch Haniger added a solo home run in the seventh.

Phillips (3-1) allowed five hits and was tagged for eight runs in 1 2/3 innings. He walked three, including consecutive batters with two outs that led to Turner’s grand slam.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Phillies: LHP Ranger Suárez (back soreness) did some throwing before Friday’s game with the possibility of throwing a bullpen in Los Angeles later in the road trip. … RHP Taijuan Walker (finger) threw 41 pitches in a rehab start for Double-A Reading. He is scheduled to pitch again Tuesday with the hope of getting to 60 pitches.

UP NEXT

Phillies: Philadelphia announced after the game that RHP Orion Kerkering (2-2, 2.21) would get the start. It'll be the second time this season Kerkering has started a game.

Mariners: RHP Bryce Miller (8-7, 3.46) has allowed three earned runs over 19 1/3 innings spanning his last three starts.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryan Woo throws against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning in a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Tyler Phillips throws against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning in a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Seattle Mariners' Justin Turner hits a grand slam off Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Tyler Phillips during the second inning in a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Tyler Phillips, center, prepares to hand the ball to manager Rob Thomson, right, as he is relieved during the second inning after giving up a grand slam against the Seattle Mariners in a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Seattle Mariners' Justin Turner celebrates as he rounds the bases on his grand slam off Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Tyler Phillips during the second inning in a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryan Woo throws against the Philadelphia Phillies during thre fourth inning in a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Seattle Mariners center fielder Victor Robles, right, is greeted by third base coach Manny Acta on his solo home run off Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Tyler Phillips during the first inning in a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Seattle Mariners' Justin Turner watches the flight of his grand slam off Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Tyler Phillips during the second inning in a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Seattle Mariners' Luke Raley hits a three-run home run off Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Tyler Phillips during the second inning in a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Milton strengthened into a major hurricane Monday on a path toward Florida population centers including Tampa and Orlando, threatening a storm surge as high as 12 feet in Tampa Bay and setting the stage for potential mass evacuations less than two weeks after a catastrophic Hurricane Helene swamped the coastline.

Milton grew into a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 kph) over the southern Gulf of Mexico. Storm surge and hurricane watches were issued for Florida's Gulf Coast, and a hurricane warning was issued for Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.

Forecast models vary widely, but the most likely path would have Milton making landfall Wednesday in the Tampa Bay area and remaining a hurricane as it moves across central Florida toward the Atlantic Ocean.

That would largely spare other southeastern states ravaged by Helene, which caused catastrophic damage from northern Florida to the Appalachian Mountains and killed at least 230 people.

Milton's center was about 165 miles (265 kilometers) west-northwest of Progreso, Mexico, and about 745 miles (1,195 kilometers) west-southwest of Tampa early Monday, moving east-southeast at 8 mph (13 kph), according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Milton is a bit atypical since it formed so far west and is expected to cross the entire southern Gulf, according to Daniel Brown, a hurricane specialist at the center.

“It’s not uncommon to get a hurricane threat in October along the west coast of Florida, but forming all the way in the southwest Gulf and then striking Florida is a little bit more unusual,” Brown said. Most storms that form in October and hit Florida come from the Caribbean, not the southwestern Gulf, he said.

A hurricane warning was in effect for Mexico from Celestun to Rio Lagartos. A hurricane watch was in effect for Mexico from Rio Lagartos to Cabo Catoche and Campeche to south of Celestun, and for Florida's Gulf Coast from Chokoloskee to the mouth of the Suwanee River, including Tampa Bay, and for Dry Tortugas.

Forecasters warned of an 8- to 12-foot storm surge (2.4 to 3.6 meters) in Tampa Bay. A storm surge watch was in effect for Florida's Gulf Coast from Flamingo northward to the mouth of the Suwannee River, including Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay. A tropical storm warning was issued in Mexico from Rio Lagartos to Cancun and from Campeche to south of Celestun.

A tropical storm watch was in effect for Florida's Gulf coast from Flamingo to south of Chokoloskee and from north of the mouth of the Suwanee River to Indian Pass, and for the Florida Keys, including Florida Bay.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Sunday that while it remains to be seen where Milton will strike, it’s clear the state is going to be hit hard.

“You have time to prepare — all day today, all day Monday, probably all day Tuesday to be sure your hurricane preparedness plan is in place,” DeSantis said. “If you’re on that west coast of Florida, barrier islands, just assume you’ll be asked to leave.”

About 7 million people were urged to evacuate Florida in 2017 as Hurricane Irma bore down. The exodus jammed freeways, led to long lines at gas stations and left evacuees in some cases vowing never to evacuate again.

Building on lessons learned during Irma and other previous storms, Florida is staging emergency fuel for gas vehicles and charging stations for electric vehicles along evacuation routes, Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said Sunday.

“We are preparing ... for the largest evacuation that we have seen, most likely since 2017, Hurricane Irma,” Guthrie said.

The Tampa Bay area is still cleaning up extensive damage from Helene and its powerful surge. Twelve people perished as Helene swamped the coast, with the worst damage along the narrow, 20-mile (32-kilometer) string of barrier islands that stretch from St. Petersburg to Clearwater.

DeSantis expanded his state of emergency declaration Sunday to 51 counties and said Floridians should prepare for more power outages and disruption, making sure they have a week’s worth of food and water and are ready to hit the road.

People who live in homes built after Florida strengthened codes in 2004, who don’t depend on constant electricity and who aren’t in evacuation zones should probably avoid the roads, Guthrie said.

All classes and school activities in Pinellas County, home to St. Petersburg, closed preemptively Monday through Wednesday. Officials in Tampa freed all city garages to residents hoping to protect their cars from flooding, including electric vehicles. The vehicles must be left on the third floor or higher in each garage.

As many as 4,000 National Guard troops are helping state crews to remove debris, DeSantis said, and he directed Florida crews dispatched to North Carolina in Helene’s aftermath to return in preparation for Milton.

When Milton achieved hurricane status, it marked the first time there have been three hurricanes swirling simultaneously in the Atlantic, said Colorado State University hurricane scientist Phil Klotzbach. Hurricanes Leslie and Kirk were far out at sea and not immediately threatening land.

This satellite image from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration taken at 11:36pm ET on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, shows Hurricane Milton. (NOAA via AP)