Mariners Game Recap: Miley struggles in 8-1 loss to Pittsburgh

The Pirates took advantage of a poor starting pitching performance and stuck the dagger into the Mariners’ bullpen on Wednesday night.

In the series-opener on Tuesday, the Mariners jumped on the Pirates early and never looked back due to an outstanding pitching performance by Hisashi Iwakuma. Wednesday night was the polar opposite for the M’s, with Pittsburgh getting to Wade Miley (6-3, 5.28 ERA) early.

Right off the bat in the second inning, the Pirates jumped in front with a lead-off solo homer by David Freese that barely stayed fair and carried over the wall in right field. The trouble wasn’t over for Miley, with Starling Marte and Sean Rodriguez reaching on a single and hit by pitch, respectively. Josh Harrison made the Mariners pay with a double to left that scored two more runs. This made it 3-0 after two innings.

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The struggles continued in the fourth inning when Marte used his speed to beat out a bunt single and then steal second immediately after. It was Rodriguez that would come through here for the Pirates, as he doubled to right to bring in another run. After a ground out and a sacrifice fly, the Mariners looked like they might be able to get out of the inning.

Still in the fourth, Steve Clevenger would be removed from the game after suffering a broken hand. Chris Iannetta replaced him, but the bleeding would not stop for the Mariners. Jordy Mercer would come through with an RBI single to make it 5-0 before they were able to get out of it.

Just when things looked to be in bad shape, things got even worse for the M’s. In the fifth, the Pirates loaded the bases against Donn Roach, and Rodriguez hit another double. This cleared the bases and made the score 8-0.

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The Mariners were finally able to counter in the fifth against Jameson Taillon (1-1, 4.50 ERA). Kyle Seager checked in with a ground-rule double and Adam Lind came through with a base hit to left to bring him in. This was the last of the scoring of the night, and it made it 8-1.

Scott Servais followed through on his announcement of moving Nathan Karns to the bullpen, and he pitched two innings. In the sixth, he put the Pirates down 1-2-3, and he was able to escape a bases loaded jam in the seventh. He retired all six outs via strikeout.

Next: M’s Move Nate Karns to the ‘Pen

Everything went quiet for the rest of the night for both sides, and the Mariners dropped back to .500 with the loss. They will face the Baltimore Orioles for a four-game series starting Thursday night.