Mariners can blame crushing postseason miss on one fateful game

It was a grueling, gut-punching crossing of the finish line this season for the Seattle Mariners. Coming into September, there was a world of promise that indicated this club could make a postseason push. They were in the hunt all month long, but ultimately ended the regular season with an 85-77 record, falling one win short of nabbing an AL Wild Card spot.

The Royals and Tigers each won 86 games, clinching the second and third berths in the Wild Card. In a 162-game season, it's difficult to wrap your head around having every contest matter. It's a six-month marathon, but it was proven that teams cannot afford to take one singular day off from bringing their A-game.

Given that tough pill to swallow, it is imperative to look back on one fateful game that the M's let go of, which would have been a clinching victory. On June 7, the Mariners traveled to Kansas City for a three-game slate against the Royals. Kansas City eventually won the series with two wins, thanks to the series-opening victory that should have seen a different winner.

The Mariners began that game with a seven-run first inning against Daniel Lynch, setting themselves up for a comfortable contest. Every starting Mariner reached base at least one time, leading to 10 hits and eight walks. Unfortunately, that was not enough.

Mariners' crushing loss to KC Royals looks even worse months later as MLB Playoffs begin

The Royals, who were struggling before beginning this series, chipped away at Bryce Miller, who was phenomenal all year as part of a strong rotation. Kansas City plated four runs in the fourth inning behind an MJ Melendez three-run home run and a Nelson Velázquez RBI single. Then they scored three more in the sixth inning behind a two-run base knock from Huntre Renfroe and an RBI from Melendez.

It was, by far, Miller's worst start of the season. It was the only time he surrendered seven runs, but despite that, the Mariners still almost won this game. They had a 9-7 lead with just three outs left to go. Seattle brought in Ryne Stanek, who entered the ball game with a 3.50 ERA.

In his 46 appearances with Seattle in 2024, he allowed just three runs one time ... which was on that unforgettable June 7 day. Stanek picked the worst game of the season to not execute on any of his pitches. He walked Nick Loftin and gave up a base hit to Garrett Hampson, both of whom are two of Kansas City's worst hitters this year.

Stanek then fell victim to an RBI groundout, which handed the Royals their meat of the order. Obviously, Bobby Witt Jr. slapped an RBI triple to tie it up at 9-9 before scoring on a fielder's choice to end the game in a 10-9 Royals walk-off win.

Stanek was traded to the Mets three weeks later. He'll now be pitching in the postseason after New York clinched on Monday, but his biggest blemish of the season wound up costing the Mariners a huge road victory that likely would have sent them to October. Unreal.