Seattle Mariners: 2 takeaways from 3-2 loss to Houston Astros

Bad calls and even worse luck help Houston complete the sweep of the Mariners. Really just a disgusting weekend overall. Boo.

Things got off to a pretty good start, then it all went downhill from there. Not a whole lot really stood out, so here are just a couple of takeaways from today’s clunker.

MITCH DOES IT ALL… LITERALLY

After scoring the Mariners’ only run last night, Mitch Haniger continued to be their lone source of offense this afternoon. Getting a rare start in the leadoff spot in Seattle’s lineup, Haniger took Gerrit Cole deep to Edgar’s to kick the game off. It is the third leadoff homer Haniger has hit in his career.

In his second at-bat, Haniger hit an awkward two-out double down the left field line. Haniger was then driven in by Domingo Santana to make things 2-0 Mariners at the time. He now has a hit in 16 of the Mariners’ 18 games thus far.

That would be it for Seattle’s offense on the day, once again struggling to muster anything against Houston’s elite pitching staff. Cole and the Astros’ bullpen retired the final 19 Mariners hitters in order, greatly assisted by Houston’s greatest asset on the field: home plate umpire Todd Tichenor.

It happens.

BRENNAN TAGGED FOR FIRST TIME, BUT BULLPEN STILL SOLID

Despite having a relatively smooth line through five innings, Marco Gonzales never looked necessarily sharp today. After surrendering a game-tying, two-run single to Michael Brantley, Gonzales was lifted in favor of Brandon Brennan. The Mariners’ Rule 5 selection from December’s Winter Meetings stepped up in a huge way, striking out Carlos Correa and Yulieski Gurriel to keep things knotted up.

But Houston’s luck continued, just as it did all day, and Brennan became just the latest victim of their annoyance when Aledmys Díaz sent a screaming a line drive to left field that somehow squeezed itself over the wall. It’s Brennan’s first run allowed this year, and a very flukey one at that.

Thankfully, that would be it for Houston in the scoring department, though it was ultimately all they needed.

Both Cory Gearrin and Anthony Swarzak looked solid in their respective one inning of work each. Gearrin appears to have some of his command issues sorted out for the time being, and Swarzak looked as solid as ever.

After allowing 10 runs in the first game of this series, the Mariners held the Astros to just six combined runs on Saturday and Sunday. That’s going to play, but they’ll need more offensive support than what they received.

For the first time this year, the Mariners looked human and, yeah, it’s depressing. But the beauty in baseball is that you typically get to run it back the next day, and that’s exactly the case for the M’s as the struggling Cleveland Indians come to town. Yusei Kikuchi (0-0, 4.15 ERA), who is expected to go just one inning to limit his usage, will take on Trevor Bauer (1-1, 2.29 ERA).