Mariners Game Recap: Twins Sweep M’s in Seattle

The Twins completed their 3-game sweep of the Mariners on Sunday afternoon, winning 5-4 at Safeco Field.

The Seattle Mariners (28-21) lost to the Minnesota Twins (15-34) on Sunday afternoon. Ricky Nolasco (2-3, 5.28 ERA) was the winning pitcher for the Twins. Taiwan Walker (2-5, 3.31 ERA) took the loss for the Mariners.

Coming off two difficult loses, the Mariners came into this game hoping to salvage the finale of a weekend series against the Twins. Taijuan Walker was on the mound for the Mariners, and like Felix Hernandez and Wade Miley before him this series, he had an off day. Tai has been pretty hot and cold this season, and it was one of those cold days. Tai’s final line was 4.1 innings pitched with 5 runs, including back to back home runs to Joe Mauer and Miguel Sano, 2 walks and only three strikeouts.

Vidal Nuno came in with a bases loaded situation in the 5th inning, allowing one runner to score (a runner credited to Walker). However, the southpaw recovered nicely, hurling 2.2 scoreless innings while striking out four. Steve Johnson came in for a scoreless 8th. Joel Peralta closed out the game in the 9th. Mariners bullpen pitched a combined scoreless 4.2 innings with 5 strikeouts and no walks.

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Twins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco went 6 solid innings for the Twins, giving up runs on a line drive home run to Robinson Cano and a wild pitch that scored Kyle Seager from third. His final line was 6 innings pitched, 2 runs and 7 strikeouts.

Trevor May pitched the 7th inning for Minnesota. To open the inning May issued the second hit by pitch to Franklin Gutierrez, but got out of the rest of the inning without harm. Fernando Abad pitched a scoreless 8th inning. Kevin Jepsen pitched the ninth inning for the Twins. Nelson Cruz led off the inning with a hard hit single down the right field line, but the hit was erased on a Kyle Seager double play. With Adam Lind on base with a single, Franklin Gutierrez hit him home from to bring the game within one run. The rally fell short and the Mariners ended up losing with a final score of 5-4.

Next: M's Beat Themselves

Next up for the Seattle Mariners (28-21) is a two-game series against the San Diego Padres (20-31) at Safeco Field. Nathan Karns (4-1, 3.35 ERA) will get the start on Monday afternoon for the Mariners. Opposite him will be Andrew Cashner (2-4, 4.87 ERA), a right-hand pitcher for the Padres.