Rick Rizzs defends Mariners’ piggyback pitching plan as Cole Young shines in Pittsburgh homecoming

Mariners broadcaster Rick Rizzs sees plenty to like about Seattle’s young talent, even as the team’s bats go quiet against left-handed pitching during a road trip that left Seattle at .500.

The Mariners lost 5-1 in Pittsburgh on Thursday, but the series gave rookie infielder Cole Young a homecoming to remember. The Pittsburgh native homered to win an earlier game 3-2 in front of family, friends and his old high school coach.

“This kid is really something special,” Rizzs told “Seattle’s Morning News” on KIRO Newsradio. “He used to go as a kid to watch the games. I just pictured him watching that game, him being in the bleachers out in left field, mom and dad one day hoping to be a Pittsburgh Pirate. And then to actually be down on that field in a big league uniform and hit a home run to beat the team he grew up watching had to be such a thrill.”

Muñoz hits 101 mph, but Mariners’ offense struggles against left-handed pitching

Closer Andrés Muñoz also stood out, touching 101 mph during the series. Rizzs said the key has been Muñoz trusting his fastball again after battling a sore back.

“His best pitch is the slider, but when he’s dominating, that fastball is electric,” Rizzs said. “When you throw it in on a hitter, now he doesn’t have the outside part of the plate, and that makes his slider better. We’re seeing a healthy Andrés Muñoz over the last couple of outings, and that’s great to see.”

The offense remains the concern, particularly against left-handers. Seattle faced three left-handed starters in Pittsburgh and struggled, going 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position Thursday.

“If you’re a right-handed hitter facing a left-handed pitcher, that should be your advantage, because the breaking ball comes into you,” Rizzs said. “Edgar Martinez told me many years ago, you don’t try to pull that pitch, you try to hit it back where it came from. The problem with the Mariners this year, the right-handed hitters against left-handed pitching, they’re really struggling.”

Rizzs pointed to Rob Refsnyder, brought in after hitting over .300 against lefties with Boston last season but slumping well below .200 this year.

“He’s going to get going,” he said. “Danny still has him in there, because you need him in September, and you especially need him in October.”

Rizzs defends piggyback plan: ‘The first three times we used it, they had a 1.67 ERA’

Rizzs also defended the club’s “piggyback” pitching plan, which pairs starters and has drawn fan frustration.

“We’re not taking the ball out of either guy’s hands. We’re putting the ball in their hands,” he said. “We have six really good starters, and we’ve got to figure out how to navigate through this. The first three times we used it, they had a 1.67 ERA. The piggyback works.”

Rizzs said the approach keeps arms fresh and unsettles opponents.

“I guarantee the Cleveland Guardians aren’t too thrilled to see Emerson Hancock and Logan Gilbert back to back,” he said.

Seattle, 41-41, still leads the American League West race. The team opens a series in Cleveland on Friday with first pitch at 4:10 p.m. Listen to the game on our sister station 710 Seattle Sports.

Manda Factor is the host of “Seattle’s Morning News” on KIRO Newsradio. Follow Manda on X and email her here. 

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