Mariners struggle against Orioles potent offense in series loss

The Mariners started their biggest test of the season on Friday when they kicked off their current road trip. Yes, more important and a bigger test than the stretch earlier when they saw Texas/Arizona/Atlanta. Facing the Orioles for a three-game set before heading to New York for a four-game set against the Yankees is a daunting task for any team to face.

The Orioles showed why right away, piling on early in the opener. Gunnar Henderson showed why he is making a push as the best player in baseball, leading off the bottom of the first with a homer. That wouldn't be the only homer for Henderson in the series, as he would actually go deep in every single game, including a monster bomb in the bottom of the ninth to left center in game two.

Gunnar Henderson and the Orioles were too much for the Mariners

You can't give a team like the O's free outs though, which is exactly what happened that first inning of game one when Moore threw the ball away. They'd end up scoring five that inning, making it look like it was an awful outing by Miller, when in reality it would've been a fairly nice night without that looming over him. The Orioles would run away with it and win 9-2, putting the Mariners on notice.

The M's would even it up in game two, although it took a long time for them to show up. The Mariners didn't have their first hit until the 6th inning, and that was an infield single by Julio. Luckily, Castillo was having another great game, and it was only 2-0 Orioles as they went to the 7th inning. The offense finally showed up, and they started the inning single, double, RBI groundout, double, and it was tied at 2.

Big shoutout to Ty France in that inning, as he worked an incredibly 12-pitch AB. What was even more impressive was that it was 0-2 after two pitches, and France fouled off six pitches after that point before hitting a ball to right-center for an RBI double.

The Mariners added two more in the 8th, and showed why insurance runs are so important, as the aforementioned homer by Henderson cut the lead to 4-3, and Munoz was able to make it through the rest of the inning and get the Mariners the win.

Baltimore again jumped out early in the finale, scoring five in the first three innings. It was too much for the Mariners to come back from, even if they got feisty late to cut it to a 5-3 lead. It was just too much offense from the Orioles, and a good reminder as to why a complete team effort is going to be needed if the Mariners are going to be contenders. It's not going to get any easier, as they head right to New York for a four-game set against the Yankees.