Mariners Game Recap: M’s Bats Fall Silent in 3-2 Loss

A catastrophic 5th inning proved to be too much for the Mariners to overcome in the series finale against the Rangers.

The Seattle Mariners were in need of a better pitching performance than those over the last 4 games from Sunday’s starter Hisashi Iwakuma to avoid a road series sweep. Early on Iwakuma was rolling, but a shaky 5th inning- for the entire team- put the Texas Rangers on top for good, ending the Japanese star’s run of 3 consecutive wins in as many starts.

Iwakuma breezed through the first couple of innings allowing just 1 hit and striking out 3. The Mariners’ offense was stagnant though so the pitchers duel was on early. In the 3rd the M’s finally broke the seal recording their first hit on the afternoon off the bat of Chris Iannetta, but nothing would come of it. Iwakuma continued to shine in the top half of the inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington, fanning 2 more batters to bring his total to 5 after 3 frames. The scoreboard would eventually change, but not until the 4th when one of the M’s usual suspects took Ranger pitcher, Derek Holland yard.

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After a Franklin Gutierrez walk was followed by a fielders’ choice by Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz stepped into the batters box. The patient Cruz worked the count into his favor, forcing holland to throw a strike on a 3-1 count; Cruz would take advantage of the pitch to put the Mariners on top 2-0 with a crushing 447 foot no doubter into the Mariner bullpen. The lead, as sweet as it was during this tough stretch, wouldn’t last long.

In the 5th, the defense coupled with Iwakuma being outmatched his 2nd time through the Ranger lineup would throw the game on its head and give the home team the lead. Small ball from the M’s division rivals, including a bunt single, a fielders’ choice, a sacrifice fly and 2 singles, would account for all 3 of the Ranger runs in the game, and that would be enough to beat out the Mariners in this road trip-ending game. The Mariners fielders were at fault for 2 of the 3 runs given up by Iwakuma as Stefen Romero and Luis Sardinas both committed errors. This was the Mariners 2nd multi-error inning of the season.

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From the 6th until the game’s final out, the M’s would reach base only twice. An infield single by Cano in the 6th and Nori Aoki would take second on an error in the 8th by Jared Hoying. Hoying had also been responsible for the Rangers first run in the 5th by singling up the middle. Iwakuma would bounce back from his hiccup in the middle of the game and retire 6 of his last 7 batters. His day was walk free until his last batter, Bobby Wilson. The Mariners bats were silenced by the Ranger bullpen down the stretch and failed to capitalize in the final frames eventually being quickly dispatched by just 8 pitches in the 9th. The game ended 3-2 and the unsuccessful road trip is finally over.

Next: Rangers Outgun M’s, Win 10-4

The Mariners-who have been the MLB’s best road team on the year- went 1-3 on the short trip, now falling 2 games behind these Rangers for 1st place in the AL West. They head back home to Safeco Field on Monday to start a 3-game stint with the Cleveland Indians.