Mariners mash 3, hold off Crew in nail-biter

SEATTLE — A game that began as a pitchers’ duel turned into a slugfest as the Mariners and Brewers combined for six home runs Friday night before Seattle escaped with a 7-6 win at Safeco Field.

Both lefty starters, Wade LeBlanc for the Mariners and Brent Suter for the Brewers, threw a hitless first three innings before the hard-hitting offenses awoke and would go on to combine for 22 hits. 

The Mariners’ Kyle Seager and the Brewers’ Chris Carter traded solo shots in the bottom of the fourth and the top of the fifth, respectively. Robinson Cano knocked a two-run dinger off Suter before he was chased in the fifth. Jonathan Villar and Keon Broxton slugged back-to-back homers off LeBlanc to start the sixth, and the Mariners pulled LeBlanc one batter later.

Suter, his contract selected from Triple-A Colorado Springs for Friday’s start, struggled with control to start his Major League debut. He walked three in the first two innings, faced the minimum in the third, and then the Mariners started to hit him. Suter allowed four runs and scattered seven hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Mariners closer Edwin Diaz struggled with his control in the ninth, giving up a two-run single from Ryan Braun after walking the bases loaded. Diaz then fanned Hernan Perez to strike out the side and secure his ninth save.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Seager starts it: Seager got the Mariners’ first hit of the night, a towering solo home …

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