Mariners Game Recap: M’s Walk-Off Rangers, and Still Lose

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3. 62. 4. 126. Final

The Seattle Mariners (55-64) walked in the winning run on Monday night in their series opening loss against the Texas Rangers (60-57). Shawn Tolleson (5-2, 2.65 ERA) was credited with the win for the home side. Fernando Rodney (5-5, 5.19 ERA) imploded in the 9th inning en route to picking up the loss.

Monday’s game was a back and forth affair, but the Mariners were playing catchup for the majority of the game. Texas took a 2-0 lead in the 3rd inning, but Seattle stormed back to tie the game in the top of the 5th. The Rangers jumped back out in front in the 6th, but the M’s fought back to tie the game again in the 7th. The score remained tied at 3 until the home half of the 9th inning. With the bases loaded and just 1 out, Fernando Rodney walked in the game-winning run.

Taijuan Walker allowed 3 runs on 10 hits across 6 innings of work for Seattle. The 22-year-old right-hander fanned 3 and walked 1 this evening. He had decent command of his repertoire, as 62 of his 96 pitches found the strike zone. Typically, when Walker is effective, his fastball lives in the upper 90’s. On Monday, he hovered in the 93-94 mph range. Regardless, Prince Tai battled and kept the Mariners in the game.

Edgar Olmos made his big league debut tonight, and he did a nice job for the M’s. Olmos required just 10 pitches to retire the side in the 7th. The 25-year-old southpaw got the first two Rangers he faced out in the 8th, but he was chased from the game following a Rougned Odor double. Tom Wilhelmsen picked up where Olmos left off, and managed to get Mike Napoli to end the threat. Fernando Rodney was called on to pitch with the score tied in the 9th, and predictably, things did not go well. Rodney loaded the bases with none out, and proceeded to walk in the winning run.

Cole Hamels made this second start against the Mariners since being acquired by the Rangers, and he was much more effective on Monday night. Hamels allowed 3 runs on 7 hits, while striking out 8 and waking 4 across 7 innings. He struggled in the 7th, but an incredible play by Shin-Soo Choo kept the score tied at 3. Sam Dyson was called on to pitch in the 8th for the Rangers, and the 27-year-old right-hander cut right through the heart of the Mariners’ order. Shawn Tolleson took over in the 9th, and tip-toed out of danger to earn the win for Texas.

Franklin Gutierrez, Ketel Marte and Kyle Seager combined to pace the Mariners’ offense this evening. Guti got the scoring started in the 4th with an RBI double to left field. Kyle Seager knotted the game at 2 with an RBI single in the 5th. Ketel Marte made things interesting in the 7th when lofted an RBI single to right field to tie the game at 3.

It was the Adrian Beltre show on Monday night, and the Mariners had front row seats. Beltre accounted for 3 of the 4 Rangers’ runs tonight, including walking in the 9th to win the game. The former M finished 3 for 4 with a pair of doubles and a walk. Ryan Strausborger was responsible for the other Texas’ run, as the rookie came through with a sacrifice fly in the 6th.

After the horrid season Fernando Rodney has had, it was nothing short of disrespectful for Lloyd McClendon to use him in the 9th inning with the score tied. The M’s fought hard to stay in the game tonight, and they must feel like the last 3 hours were a complete waste of time. I know there are very few options at the back end of the Mariners’ bullpen, but continuing to use Rodney is inexplicable. This team is a train wreck, and significant changes need to be made. Firing McClendon and Jack Z is a great place to start.

More from Mariners News

Seattle continues to fall in the American League West standings, as they now sit 9.5 games back of the division leading Houston Astros. The Mariners are currently 7 games back in the wildcard race.

The Seattle Mariners (55-64) will try and even the series with the Texas Rangers (60-57) on Tuesday night. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 pm from Globe Life Park in Arlington, TX. Hisashi Iwakuma (4-2, 3.86 ERA) will make his first start since pitching the 5th no-hitter in franchise history last Wednesday. Chi Chi Gonzalez (2-4, 4.22 ERA) will get the ball for the Rangers tomorrow night. Root Sports Northwest will carry the game live locally, and MLB.tv subscribers can watch worldwide on connected devices.

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