Mariners Game Recap: Yet Another Painful Loss for Seattle

21. Final. 0. 62. 1

The Tampa Bay Rays (30-26) edged the Seattle Mariners (24-31) 1-0 on Friday night at Safeco Field. The game remained scoreless until the 9th inning, and tonight’s loss ranks at the top of frustrating losses this season. Fernando Rodney (2-3, 6.94 ERA) took the loss after allowing the lone run to score in the 9th. Andrew Bellatti (2-0, 1.80 ERA) earned the win for Tampa, and Kevin Jepsen saved his 3rd game of the season.

Seattle wasted yet another incredible pitching performance from their starting pitcher. J.A. Happ was phenomenal tonight, scattering 6 hits across 7 scoreless frames. The 32-year-old southpaw struck out 6 Rays and walked 1 this evening. Happ had great command on the hill, and 64 of his 100 pitches found the strike zone. He is exceeding expectations in his first season in Seattle, and after tonight’s showing, his ERA has dropped to 3.31. If the Mariners continue to crumble, Happ should be attractive trade bait at the deadline next month.

Jun 5, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Fernando Rodney (56) adjusts his hat after giving up a solo home run to Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Logan Forsythe (11) in the ninth inning at Safeco Field. The Rays beat the Mariners 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

I want off the Fernando Rodney Experience, it is making me feel sick. The anger caused from watching him “pitch” this season is too much to bear. Rodney entered the game in the 9th with both teams deadlocked at 0. The archery enthusiast did his very best to make sure that is not how the inning ended. As always, he quickly fell behind hitters and paid the price. He surrendered a leadoff home run on a 2-1 pitch, and that proved to be the fatal blow.

Tonight’s train wreck HAS to be the final straw for Rodney. Trading away capable relievers is looking pretty dumb right about now. Please come to your senses, Lloyd McClendon. Replace Fernando Rodney with Carson Smith immediately, your job may well depend on it.

The Rays’ pitching staff worked together seamlessly to shut out the Mariners tonight. Jake Odorizzi got the start and was cruising along nicely until exiting in the 5th inning due to injury. Odorizzi hurled 4.1 shutout innings, while striking out 4 and waking 1. Andrew Bellatti was marvellous in relief, keeping the M’s off the scoreboard for 3 innings. For the second night in a row, Kevin Jepsen danced out danger to record the save. Jensen allowed a leadoff triple, but retired the next 3 Mariners in order to strand the runner at third base.

The Mariners’ bats made it easy for the Rays’ hurlers tonight. Seattle combined to tally just 7 hits, and stranded 9 men on base in the loss. Nelson Cruz was the lone Mariner to record a multi-hit game, finishing the night 2 for 4. The M’s had a pair of golden opportunities late in the game, but came up empty both times. Seattle loaded the bases with 2 out in the 8th, but Robinson Cano grounded out weakly to first base to end the threat. Austin Jackson led off the 9th with a triple. Brad Miller, Mike Zunino and Dustin Ackley failed to capitalize with the tying run only 90 feet away.

The Rays’ hitters were equally as pitiful at the plate, however Logan Forsythe had the big hit tonight. Forsythe yanked a Fernando Rodney fastball over the wall in left field to lead the Rays to victory. Evan Longoria and Jake Elmore each contributed a pair of hits tonight for Tampa. The Rays left 6 men on base, and went 0-4 with runners in scoring position.

Things have to change for the Mariners, and they have to change quick. Lloyd McClendon is skating on thin ice right now, and Jack Zduriencik has made a string of poor moves recently. The “Lloyd McClendon Loyalty Program” needs to be taken out of service. McClendon has to untie himself from the boulders known as Rickie Weeks, Dustin Ackley, Willie Bloomquist and Fernando Rodey. These boulders are sinking the Mariners’ ship. It is hard to believe, but the Mariners are worse today than they were a month ago. If McClendon does not stop playing favorites, he will be hunting for a job come season’s end.

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