Mariners home stand a success despite dropping the series finale against Atlanta

Playing against the best team in the National League, the Mariners hoped to accomplish what no team had done all season... sweep the Atlanta Braves. On Wednesday, the Braves showed why they are currently the best team in the National League. After dropping the first two games in the series, Atlanta jumped out to 1-0 on bases loaded walk by Marcell Ozuna in the third inning. Mariners' starting pitcher Emerson Hancock did a nice job of working out of trouble in that inning by getting Adam Duvall to pop out to retire the side.

In the fourth inning, the game began to unravel for Hancock, following an unfortunate error from Mitch Haniger on a pop fly to right field. The Braves would go on to score four unearned runs after that error by Haniger, chasing Hancock from the game. However, since Hancock only surrendered one earned run over 3.2 IP, the Mariners' streak of starting pitchers giving up two earned runs or less continued. The Mariners starting pitchers have now gone 19 consecutive starts allowing just two earned runs or less.

The Mariners defense cost them the game

Seattle's bullpen did a good job of keeping the Mariners in the game after Emerson Hancock exited the game in the fourth. Thornton went 1.1 IP allowing just one inherited runner to score, Tyson Miller threw two scoreless innings, Tayler Saucedo shutout the Braves in the eighth, and Austin Voth threw a scoreless ninth. Which helped give the Mariners a chance to work their way back into the game.

The Mariners had their chances to respond and had runners on base several times. Seattle out hit the Atlanta 10 to 6, but the Mariners left 11 men on base, squandering opportunities to cut into the Braves lead. Even though the Mariners could have done better with runners in scoring position, Jorge Polanco came up with two outs twice and delivered RBI-singles in each of those at bats with men in scoring position.

In the ninth inning, the Mariners had one last chance to mount a rally. Luke Raley, who pinch hit for catcher Seby Zavala, walked to lead off the ninth, and then Julio Rodriguez singled to put runners at first and second with no outs. Unfortunately, the Mariners were unable to capitalize on the opportunity, as Mitch Haniger flew out, Jorge Polanco popped out, and Cal Raleigh grounded out to end the game. Despite losing 5-2 to Atlanta, the good news is the Mariners won both series on this home stand, going (4-2) against the defending NL Champs and the best team in the National League.