The Mariners squandered multiple chances to walk out of San Francisco with a sweep in the first half of a home-and-home series on Tuesday afternoon, losing 6-2.
Matt Duffy after homering off J.A. Happ (Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports).
The loss moves the M’s 29-36 while a win by the Astros puts the Mariners now at 8.5 games out in the AL West race. Every series at this point feels like it’s must-win for the M’s, especially with the Astros coming to town this weekend.
J.A. Happ was better for the Mariners today, allowing three earned runs in six innings. He was able to live on the corners for the most part, which was an improvement from his last start in Cleveland.
Matt Duffy gave the Giants a 2-0 lead in the second when he hit a two-run homer on a fastball that was far off the inside corner. Nothing you can do there but tip your hat to the kid.
The M’s had a golden opportunity in the fifth after Brad Miller made it 2-1 with a leadoff homer. Mike Zunino then singled before Happ bunted into a double play, helping kill the rally.
The Mariners also had a runner at third with two outs in the second and couldn’t score.
More from Mariners News
- What Jerry Dipoto’s trades, comments mean for remainder of Mariners offseason
- Mariners Select Chris Clarke in Rule 5 Draft
- Thank you for a Memorable Year, Abraham Toro and Jesse Winker!
- Winter Meetings Wrap Up: Checking where the Mariners stand
- A Farewell to Mitch Haniger as he signs with the San Francisco Giants
A bit of bad luck for Happ made it 3-1 Giants but in the sixth Miller brought home the M’s second run to make it 3-2. The M’s were unable to cash in further though, as Zunino was retired to end the inning.
Fernando Rodney, attempting to get back to the 2014 version of himself, worked a scoreless seventh. He still fell behind 2-0 on two hitters, but he was able to rebound.
Tom Wilhelmsen got the first two outs in the eighth before the wheels came off. He walked two batters, then gave up a Duffy bloop single and then a two-run double to make it 6-2.
The Mariners return home tomorrow night to Safeco Field when Felix Hernandez takes on Madison Bumgarner in a highly-anticipated pitching matchup.