Mariners Game Recap: M's Fall 5-4 to O's in Series Finale

62. 5. 11. Final. 4

The Baltimore Orioles (18-20) edged the Seattle Mariners (18-22) on Thursday afternoon, winning 5-4 in the series finale. Today’s game took nearly 6 hours to complete after a 2 hour rain delay int he 3rd inning. Because of this, neither J.A. Happ or Chris Tillman made it past 3 innings. Tommy Hunter (2-1, 4.41 ERA) was awarded the win for the O’s, and Danny Farquhar (0-3, 5.48 ERA) was saddled with the loss for Seattle. Zach Britton pitched a perfect 9th to record his 8th save of the season.

Despite the loss today, the M’s remain 8.0 games back of the American League West leading Houston Astros. The Detroit Tigers beat the Astros in extra innings this afternoon, and thus Seattle has not lost any ground on the surprising ‘Stros.

J.A. Happ is extremely lucky to not be changed with the loss today. The 32-year-old southpaw allowed 4 runs on 4 hits across 2.0 innings this afternoon in Baltimore. He struggled mightily with his command, walking 2, but managed to strikeout 3 O’s in the losing effort. The big blow was a 1st inning grand slam. He likely would have lasted more than 2 innings had it not been for the lengthy rain delay. Regardless, this was the worst showing of the season for Happ.

The Mariners’ bullpen performed admirably, allowing just 1 run on 5 hits across 7 innings of work. Tom Wilhelmsen, Mark Lowe and Charlie Furbush held the O’s off the scoreboard, but Joe Beimel was the true star today. Beimel hurled 1.1 perfect innings while striking out 3 and walking 0. Danny Farquhar has been a huge disappointment in 2015, and his rough season continued today. Farquhar allowed the game winning run in the cross the plate in the home half of the 8th inning.

Chris Tillman fared much better against his former team, but ultimately was pulled after 3 innings due to the rain delay. Tillman allowed 1 run on 1 hit, while striking out 2 and walking 3. Control is still a major concern for the 27-year-old right-hander, as he has now issued 22 free passes in 41.2 innings pitched this season.

May 21, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Seattle Mariners manager

Lloyd McClendon

(21) argues with home plate umpire John Trumpane (left) after third baseman

Kyle Seager

(not pictured) was ejected in the fifth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Orioles won 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

The Mariners lit up the Orioles’ bullpen today. Leading the way offensively was Rickie Weeks who went 1 for 3 with a 2-run single. Welington Castillo came through with a 1st inning sacrifice fly, and went 1 for 4 in his Mariners’ debut. Brad Miller, Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager all tallied multiple hits. The Mariners came all the way back to tie the game today, but came up just short.

Steven Pearce’s 1st inning grand slam was the biggest play on either side today, and accounted for 80% of the Orioles’ runs. Pearce finished 1 for 3 with a home run, 4 RBI’s and a walk. Veteran shortstop J.J. Hardy came through with a clutch RBI single in the 8th to retake the lead. Hardy had a pretty nice series, but he is still hitting below the Mendoza line on the season.

The Mariners played pretty well today, and showed some serious backbone coming back. It is never easy to sit through a 2 plus hour rain delay, but Lloyd McClendon had his boys ready to go after the break in action. I am very encouraged by what I have seen from the Mariners as of late. The pitching is keeping them in every game, and I like their odds of scoring enough runs with Nelson Cruz, Robby and Seags in the starting 9. Hopefully, the strong play continues as they head to Toronto to take on the struggling Blue Jays.

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Mariners Game Recap: M’s Fall 5-4 to O’s in Series Finale

By Brian Helberg | May 21, 2015

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