Mariners Game Recap: Ho, Ho, Ho – M’s Win Again!

The Mariners won the game and the series against the Rays on Tuesday night at Safeco Field.

The Seattle Mariners (20-13) edged the Tampa Bay Rays (15-16), 6-4 on Tuesday night in the Emerald City. With the victory, Seattle clinched the series win. Wade Miley (3-2, 4.91 ERA) earned the W for the Mariners, and Drew Smyly (1-4, 3.63 ERA) was credited with the loss for the visiting Rays. Steve Cishek shut the door in the ninth to secure his second save in as many nights.

There was very little for Drew Smyly to smile about in the first inning, as the Mariners jumped all over the Rays starter. Ketel Marte was the star last night, and he led off tonight’s game by yanking a single into left field. Franklin Gutierrez has had a slow start to 2016, but he broke out of his slump by belting an opposite field two-run home run to right field. Robinson Cano followed with a single, and Nelson Cruz ripped a double down the left field line to put runners on second and third with none out. Kyle Seager lofted a sacrifice fly to right field to give Seattle an early 3-0 lead.

The Rays chipped away at the M’s lead in the top of the second inning. Steve Pearce muscled up on a Wade Miley changeup, and just managed to sneak it inside the left field foul pole for a solo home run. The round-tripper was Pearce’s fourth of the season, and made it a 3-1 game.

Tampa got to within one run in the fourth inning. Steve Pearce had Miley’s number tonight, and he tagged his second homer of the game. This time he clubbed a fastball over the wall in left field, but luckily it was just a solo shot.

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The Mariners really opened things up in the home half of the fourth. Chris Iannetta and Seager got things rolling with back-to-back singles. Dae-ho Lee sliced an 80 mph cutter over the wall in right field for a three-run blast. Lee is quickly becoming a fan favorite in Seattle, and deservingly so. Dae-ho’s dinger was his fifth of the season, and gave the Mariners a commanding 6-2 lead.

Curt Casali led off the sixth for the Rays by working a free pass. Brandon Guyer followed by doubling to left field to put runners on second and third with none out. Evan Longoria made it a 6-3 game with an RBI groundout, but that was all Tampa could muster. Considering how ugly the sixth inning could’ve been, Miley did a pretty nice job stopping the bleeding.

Scott Servais opted to leave Miley in for the seventh, and that decision proved to be a mistake. Steven Souza got up 2-0 in the count before connecting on a solo home run. Souza’s homer cut the Mariners lead to two runs, and chased Miley from the game.

Wade Miley was lifted in the seventh inning after allowing 4 runs on 4 hits across 6 innings. The veteran southpaw fanned 6 and walked 1, but the long ball proved to be his achilles heel as he served up 3 home runs. A win is a win, but Miley has rarely lived up to his billing so far in 2016.

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Nick Vincent was brought in to pitch with none out and the bases empty in the top of the seventh inning. The 29-year-old righty sat down the first two men he faced, but issued a two-out walk to Kevin Kiermaier. Corey Dickerson was called on to pinch hit, and Servais countered by bringing in Vidal Nuno who struck Dickerson out swinging.

The Mariners turned to Joel Peralta in the eighth inning. Peralta struck out the leadoff man, but allowed a single to Brad Miller. The 40-year-old right-hander struck out Longo for the second out, but Servais signalled for his closer, Steve Cishek. Pearce worked a two-out walk to keep the inning alive, but Cishek induced a fly out to end the threat.

Cishek was touched up for a leadoff single in the ninth, but struck out the next three batters to earn his 11th save of the season.

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Looking ahead, the Seattle Mariners (20-13) will host the Tampa Bay Rays (15-16) in the series finale on Wednesday afternoon at Safeco Field. The M’s will have a chance to secure their first home sweep of the season tomorrow if they can beat the Rays. First pitch is scheduled 12:40 pm from the corner of Edgar & Dave. It will be a premier pitching matchup, as Taijuan Walker (2-0, 1.97 ERA) will be on the bump for Seattle and Chris Archer (2-4, 4.23 ERA) will get the ball for the Rays.