Seattle Mariners Game Recap: M’s Can’t Overcome Mental Miscues

Apr 15, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher J.P. Howell, center fielder Joc Pederson and catcher Yasani Grandal celebrate after defeating the Seattle Mariners 5-2 at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Dodgers (6-3) completed the 3-game sweep of the Seattle Mariners (3-6) Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. Brett Anderson (1-0, 3.27 ERA) was not overly dominant, but he managed to pick up his first victory in a Dodgers’ uniform. Taijuan Walker (0-2, 17.18 ERA) had his second consecutive rough outing, and suffered his second consecutive defeat.

Tai Walker once again had trouble getting through the first inning in his second outing of the season. Yasmani Grandal followed a Jimmy Rollins strikeout by singling on a ground ball to center field. Walker got Adrian Gonzalez to fly out, but issued a 2-out walk to Howie Kendrick to keep the inning alive. Andre Ethier may be the best 4th outfielder in baseball, and he delivered an RBI single to left field to get the Dodgers on the scoreboard. Scott Van Slyke crushed a fastball that careened off the wall in left field for a 2 run double. All told, Los Angeles had a 3-0 lead after 1.

Los Angeles added to their lead in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Joc Pederson led things off for the Dodgers by working a leadoff walk. Brett Anderson struck out, but Rollins and Grandal both walked to load the bases. Adrian Gonzalez has been incredible this season, and he delivered an RBI single to extend the Dodgers lead to 4-0 after 2 innings.

The Dodgers made it 3 consecutive innings with a run scored in the bottom of the 3rd. Tai Walker’s trouble with command continued, as he plunked Ethier to open the inning. Juan Uribe singled on a line drive to center field to put runners on first and second with 1 out. Joc Pederson had himself an impressive night in the field, and he contributed an RBI single to make it 5-0 Dodgers after 3.

The Mariners made a small dent into the Dodgers commanding lead in the top of the 4th inning. Nelson Cruz entered tonight with 5 home runs in his last 4 games, and tonight he made it 6 homers in 5 games. The M’s right fielder went opposite field for a solo home run to make the score 5-1. Cruz is just the second player to hit home runs in 5 consecutive games during his first 10 games with a new team.

More from Mariners News

• 2023 Steamer Projections: Teoscar Hernandez could see a drop in Seattle
• Steamer Projections: Julio Rodriguez to enter rarified air in 2023
• What if the Mariners traded FOR Tyler O’Neill this time?
• Mariners starting pitching is being overlooked by MLB
• Baking the Cake: An Adjusted Mariners Offseason Plan

Seattle inched a little bit closer in the top of the 6th inning. Austin Jackson reached on a fielding error by Gonzo to open the frame. Robinson Cano sliced a single to left field, and Nelson Cruz walked to load the bases. Kyle Seager grounded into a fielders choice at first base, but Jackson came across to score. Seager’s RBI shrunk the Dodgers lead to 3 runs. With runners on second and third, Logan Morrison worked a 1-out walk. Unfortunately, Cano inexplicably thought the bases were loaded, and thus began walking towards home. He did not realize his mistake until it was too late, and he was tagged out.

The M’s were unable to close the gap, and the Dodgers won on Jackie Robinson Day (which is probably the way it should be.) Seattle made far too many mental mistakes to win tonight, and Los Angeles proved to be the better team this week.

Click here for the full box score.

Next: Tai Walker Looked Overmatched Tonight

Apr 15, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Taijuan Walker during the first inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Tai Walker Looked Overmatched Tonight

Taijuan Walker was lit up in his first outing of the season last week in Oakland, and he did not fare much better this evening. Walker allowed 5 runs on 6 hits across 4 innings Wednesday night in Chavez Ravine. He walked 4 Dodgers, and struck out just 3. Of his 76 pitches, only 46 landed in the strike zone. He struggled with location once again on Wednesday, and he looked dazed and confused on the mound.

I had really high hopes for Tai tonight. He appeared to be very excited to pitch in front of his friends and family on Jackie Robinson Day. Perhaps he was too amped up, and he was unable to control his emotions. Walker looked like he was going to be sick during the first inning.

Fans were hoping for a breakthrough year from the 22-year-old right-hander, but thus far he has been a massive disappointment. Walker was brilliant in Spring Training, allowing just 2 runs across 27 innings, but he has allowed 14 runs across 7.1 innings this season. It is fair to wonder if a demotion to Tacoma would be wise for Walker at this time.

Next: The Mariners are Not Playing Heads Up Ball

Apr 15, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal takes the throw from center fielder Joc Pederson to tag Seattle Mariners catcher Mike Zunino out at home in the fourth inning of the game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Mariners are Not Playing Heads Up Ball

Seattle gifted the Dodgers the first 2 games of this series, and tonight their tally of mental mistakes was higher than their hit total. The series got off to an inauspicious start on Monday night when Logan Morrison forgot how many outs there were multiple times during the same game. It did not end up costing the Mariners, but the lack of mental awareness was perplexing.

In Game 2, Fernando Rodney exploded in the bottom of the 9th inning. I can still picture the look on his face after he gave up the leadoff single. His face was screaming, “That was a rude way to wake someone up from a nap!”

Tonight was the worst of the worst. Mike Zunino came up with a ground-rule double leading off the 5th inning. Justin Ruggiano followed with a weak single on a line drive to center fielder Joc Pederson. On what should have been an easy decision to break to third base, Zunino got one of the worst reads I have ever seen. Not only was he late in heading to third, but then he thought he could score on the hit. Pederson gunned down Zunino at the plate with ease, and the M’s rally was killed.

Robinson Cano’s blunder was like the bad dream where you show up naked for work. Cano and Cruz were on second and third with 1 out in the 6th inning. LoMo did a nice job working a walk to load the bases, but Cano was under the impression he had just been walked in. Cano began trotting home, and was thrown out trying to retreat to third base.

I have been watching baseball for over 20 years, and I have never seen a player start walking home in the middle of an inning for no apparent reason. Hell, I have never seen a 6-year-old do what Robby did tonight. His base running blunder took the wind out of the M’s sails, and has to rank among the most embarrassing moments of Cano’s baseball life.

These kinds of mental miscues are not going to cut it if the Mariners plan on making the postseason in 2015.

Next: The Dodgers are Really Good

April 14, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal (9) reacts as left fielder

(3) is safe at home against the tag of Seattle Mariners catcher Mike Zunino (3) in the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium. Umpire Greg Gibson called the play safe. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers are Really Good

I can talk all night about the pathetic play of the Mariners over the past 3 games, but it would not be fair to ignore the quality of the opposition. The Dodgers showed why they are projected by many to represent the National League in the World Series this fall.

The comeback wins during the first 2 games were executed perfectly, and they dominated from the get go tonight. I’m not making excuses for the M’s, but LA is a great team. They pitched well, they played sound defense and they had clutch hitting.

It is disheartening that Seattle could not keep up with the Dodgers, but hopefully the Texas Rangers will present an easier challenge this weekend at Safeco Field.

Next: Looking Ahead