Mariners Game Recap: Pirates Blow M’s Out of the Water

The Mariners had nothing working on Wednesday night, and the Pirates pounced on the opportunity to break things open.

Tuesday night’s game featured a matchup between Gerrit Cole (5-6, 2.99 ERA) and James Paxton (3-4, 4.18 ERA). Paxton was looking to build on a great outing at Toronto last week where he struck out nine and gave up only one run en route to a 2-1 victory.

The Mariners had the opportunity to get the bats going in the top of the first. Nori Aoki hit a leadoff double down the right field line, and Robinson Cano was able to reach base after he was hit by a pitch. The threat died though when Adam Lind struck out swinging with runners on first and second.

More from Mariners News

• 2023 Steamer Projections: Teoscar Hernandez could see a drop in Seattle
• Steamer Projections: Julio Rodriguez to enter rarified air in 2023
• What if the Mariners traded FOR Tyler O’Neill this time?
• Mariners starting pitching is being overlooked by MLB
• Baking the Cake: An Adjusted Mariners Offseason Plan

Paxton was on his game early, striking out David Freese and Andrew McCutchen in a 1-2-3 first inning. This didn’t last long though, as he struggled through the second and the Pirates opened up the scoring in the third. Josh Harrison hit a triple to left-center, barely holding at third before trying to stretch it to an inside-the-park homer. This didn’t matter though, as Jordy Mercer would immediately double to left with the outfield in a shift, scoring the runner on third. Freese followed up with an infield hit into the six-hole, and McCutchen would bring in another run with a double to right-center. Paxton would hit a batter to load the bases, and Jung Ho Kang drew a bases loaded walk to extend their lead. The Mariners would finally escape the inning with a groundout to Kyle Seager, but the damage was done, and the Pirates led 3-0 at that point.

Paxton was able to settle down after the third inning and hold the Pirates for the rest of his night. Unfortuntely for the M’s, Cole was stubborn to give up anything all night long. Seattle was able to get on the board in the sixth when Aoki hit another double down the right field line. After a Seth Smith groundout advanced him to third, Cano was able to drive in the first run of the night with a sacrifice fly to center to make it 3-1.

More from SoDo Mojo

• 2023 Steamer Projections: Teoscar Hernandez could see a drop in Seattle
• Could the Mariners Acquire AL Batting Champion, Luis Arraez?
• Steamer Projections: Julio Rodriguez to enter rarified air in 2023
• What if the Mariners traded FOR Tyler O’Neill this time?
• Mariners starting pitching is being overlooked by MLB

Drew Storen made his Mariners debut late in the game, and it was a rocky first appearance in an M’s uniform. Despite setting the Pirates down in order in the sixth, he walked in a run in the seventh on a questionable check-swing call on a 3-2 count. He was removed from the game at this point, and the bases were left loaded with one out for Nate Karns. Kang would immediately hit an RBI double to clear the bases and make it 7-1 Pittsburgh.

If someone were to think things couldn’t get worse, they were wrong. McCutchen launched a three-run homer to straightaway center to extend the Pirates’ lead to 10-1.

Next: M’s Showing Interest in Jay Bruce

Despite an error, the Pirates were able to successfully shut down the Mariners in the ninth and earn the win. With this, Seattle drops to 51-49 and Pittsburgh improves to 52-48. The Mariners have an off-day, and then travel to Chicago to face the Cubs on Friday.