Mariners Game Recap: M’s Lose 5th Consecutive Game

They say “it’s always darkest before the dawn”, but it just keeps getting darker for the Mariners.

The Texas Rangers (5-4) handed the Seattle Mariners (2-6) their fifth consecutive loss on Tuesday night at Safeco Field. The Mariners continue to sink to new lows, and the Rangers dominated tonight en route to winning 8-0. Derek Holland (1-0, 2.31 ERA) was in control throughout and earned the win for the Rangers. Wade Miley (0-1, 8.25 ERA) was credited with the loss for Seattle.

It was another rough outing for Miley tonight. The 29-year-old allowed 5 runs to score in the 3rd, and that understandably killed what little life the crowd had. It was a forgettable night for Miley, as he was lifted after allowing 6 runs on 10 hits through 6 innings of work. I’m not sure if he is a superstitious player, but maybe changing up his routine would shift the bad mojo. Personally, I vote for the shaggy southpaw to get a much needed haircut and trim his overgrown beard.

Neither team was able to generate much offense through the first two innings this evening, but the Rangers hung 5 runs on the Mariners in the top of the 3rd. Elvis Andrus led off the frame with a hard hit ground ball through the box into center field. Andrus hustled over to third base on a Ryan Rua single to right field. Bryan Holaday came through with a seeing-eye single that just skipped past a diving Luis Sardinas at shortstop. Andrus scored easily on the play.

Still in the top of the 3rd, Delino DeShields laid down a perfect bunt to make load the bases and make it 4 consecutive base hits. Miley and Chris Iannetta collided trying to field the bunt, and Miley was shaken up. Iannetta accidentally spiked Miley on the left ankle, but he was able to stay in the game. The veteran lefty struck out Nomar Mazara swinging, but Prince Fielder plated the second run of the inning on a sacrifice fly. Adrian Beltre got down in the count early, but yanked a slider over the yellow line in left field for a 3-run blast.

The Rangers tacked on another run in the 6th inning. Miley got Ian Desmond swinging for the first out of the inning, but Rougned Odor laced a double into left field. Andrus was the next hitter, and he singled home Odor to make it a 6-0 game.

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The Mariners handed the ball off to Tony Zych in the top of the 7th. Zych struck out the side on Monday night, but things did not go quite so smoothly this evening. The 25-year-old right-hander plunked the leadoff man and walked DeShields to give Texas a pair of baserunners with none out. Beltre had himself quite a game against his former team, and he doubled home two more runs to make it 8-0.

Obviously, opening the season 2 and 6 while losing five straight games is an awful way to start the Jerry Dipoto/Scott Servais tenure, but it’s important to remember that it’s a long season. Although that feels more like a warning than a reason for optimism at this point.

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Looking ahead, the Seattle Mariners (2-6) will battle the Texas Rangers (5-4) in the series finale on Wednesday afternoon at Safeco Field. First pitch is scheduled for 12:40 pm from the corner of Edgar & Dave. Taijuan Walker (0-0, 3.00 ERA) will be tasked with getting the Mariners back into the win column. A.J. Griffin (1-0, 4.50 ERA) will be on the bump for the visitors as they go for the sweep. If you can stomach watching the M’s play, the game will be televised locally on Root Sports Northwest and MLB.tv subscribers can watch worldwide on connected devices.