The Seattle Mariners had a memorable run in 2022, winning 90 games, earning the second American League Wild Card spot and beating the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL Wild Card Series.
Unfortunately, they ended up being swept out of the ALDS by the eventual American League champion Houston Astros, who are now just one win shy of winning their second World Series title.
But Seattle set some historic marks in 2022, rebounding from a tough start to end the longest active playoff drought in all of baseball.
Seattle also led the entire league in one-run victories, becoming the first team to do so in back-to-back seasons since the Cincinnati Reds did it in 1897 and 1898.
The @Mariners led the Majors in 1-run wins (34) in 2022, becoming the first team to lead the Majors outright in 1-run wins in back-to-back seasons since the Cincinnati Reds in 1897-98. pic.twitter.com/VqOWPLEFZE
— Mariners PR (@MarinersPR) November 3, 2022
Mariners Lead MLB in 1-Run Wins
Sometimes, playing under the burner is what makes a team who they are.
Playing under pressure is never easy to do, but when a team can pull out that many one-run victories, 34 in the Mariners’ case, then they have been battle tested and have proven to be capable of coming through in tight spots.
The Mariners have also led the majors in this category in back-to-back seasons, so this is nothing new for them.
A solid starting rotation and a strong bullpen helped the Mariners lock down several of these games.
It’s part of why these Mariners were able to do what other Mariners teams of the past could not do: reach the postseason.
It had been since 2001, but the Mariners finally ended their drought and found a way into the postseason.
Winning a lot of one-run games will help with that.