ARLINGTON, Texas — Josh Smith returned to the dugout on Friday night with a confused expression, glancing up at the massive video boards in Globe Life Field. He had just struck out swinging and was trying to figure out what pitch Matt Brash had thrown.
The moment came in the ninth inning of a tied game, with the potential winning run on second. On a 2-2 count, catcher Cal Raleigh called for a changeup, and Brash delivered a perfectly placed pitch that fooled Smith for strike three.
That one pitch stood out during a long night in which Mariners pitchers threw 181 pitches over 12 innings in a 7-6 win. It also highlighted how Brash has grown more confident in using the changeup as part of his repertoire.
“Friday was a real confidence booster for me,” Brash said. “Big moment in the game, runner in scoring position, and Cal called for the changeup. I threw it without hesitation. It was a good pitch, but more importantly, I trusted it. I’ve come a long way with it, and it’s proving to be a strong option, especially against left-handers. I’m feeling great about it.”
That strikeout helped Brash extend his streak to 17 straight scoreless outings to start the season, breaking the previous franchise record of 16, which was shared by Andrés Muñoz (earlier this year) and Marc Rzepczynski (in 2017).
He extended the streak again Saturday, working a scoreless ninth in a 3-2 loss to the Rangers, making it 18 straight appearances without allowing a run.
The changeup Brash used on Smith was one of four he threw that inning. According to Statcast, he’s only used the pitch 29 times since returning from Tommy John surgery, which sidelined him for all of last season.
Brash added six more changeups in Saturday’s game, a sign he’s becoming more comfortable using it.
He began developing the pitch during his recovery, though he had experimented with it back in college. In the pros, it had taken a backseat to his fastball and breaking ball.
Brash said he became more serious about the changeup after watching Muñoz experiment with one during spring training. He also noted that other former starters who transitioned to bullpen roles had found success with it.
Though it won’t be a staple in his pitch selection, Brash sees it as a valuable tool in the right situations.
“I liked how it worked Friday,” Brash said. “Smith hadn’t seen it before and was probably expecting a slider. I also threw one to [Sam] Haggerty that he didn’t offer at. It’s a nice mix to keep hitters guessing.”
Bullpen Updates:
The Mariners made a roster move before Saturday’s game, calling up right-hander Juan Burgos from Triple-A Tacoma and designating Zach Pop for assignment.
Burgos had pitched primarily for Double-A Arkansas this season before his recent promotion. He’s allowed only two earned runs over 29 innings in the minors and is in line to make his MLB debut soon.
Meanwhile, Pop struggled mightily in his four outings since joining the Mariners on June 16, giving up seven earned runs and two home runs in a single inning against the Twins on Thursday.
Another reliever, Collin Snider, is nearing a return. Out since June 4 with a forearm strain, Snider threw a simulated game Friday. He expects to either face hitters again Monday or begin a rehab assignment Tuesday. He threw about 40 pitches in his session and reported no issues afterward.
Snider had appeared in 24 games before landing on the injured list.
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