Seattle Mariners vs. Minnesota Twins series finale recap, June 30th
The Mariners had an interesting situation to handle during their series finale with the Twins, after catcher Mitch Garver left Sunday's game when he was hit by a pitch in the second inning.
![Minnesota Twins v Seattle Mariners](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_5639,h_3171,x_0,y_172/c_fill,w_752,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/65/01j1njh8vnzzxqb8fmb1.jpg)
The Mariners catcher Mitch Garver left the series finale after being hit by a pitch on his right wrist in the second inning. Cal Raleigh started the game at DH, so the Mariners had to play without a DH the rest of the game when Garver left with what was later diagnosed as a right wrist contusion. Which meant the pitcher's spot took Garver's sixth spot in the lineup. That would make managing today's game interesting for Mariners' manager Scott Servais.
Luis Castillo had the unique opportunity of hitting when his turn came up in the lineup in the fourth inning. Luke Raley doubled in front of the Castillo, providing an opportunity for the Mariners pitcher to bunt Raley over, unfortunately, Castillo would strike out on three pitches. Then Jorge Polanco and Dylan Moore subsequently struck out following Castillo's at bat.
Pitching wise, Castillo was not as sharp as he could have been, allowing three earned runs on six hits, going just five innings. The Mariners pinch hit for Luis Castillo when his spot came up in the bottom of the fifth with the bases loaded. Ryan Bliss who came in to pinch hit would strike out and then Jorge Polanco popped out to end the inning.
The Mariners did cut into the Twins 3-0 lead in that inning. Taking advantage of a ball being lost in the sun by center fielder Byron Buxton. As the Mariners pushed across two runs in the inning. Scoring one run on a fielders choice ground ball which Dylan Moore scored on after a replay review. Then another on an infield single from Luke Raley which scored Josh Rojas. The fine stop by Twins' second baseman Austin Martin on the play kept any more runs from scoring.
The Mariners turned to their bullpen as Austin Voth and Mike Baumann would throw one-two-three shut-out innings in the sixth and seventh. Twins' starting pitcher Joe Ryan pitched for 5.2 innings before being pulled with two outs in the sixth. Ryan's line was 5.2 IP, two earned runs, he gave up six hits, and struck out 10.
In the seventh inning, the Mariners rallied to tie the game, as Luke Raley singled with one out off Twins' reliever Steven Okert. After Robles grounded out hitting in the pitchers' spot, Jorge Polanco singled off new Twins' reliever Trevor Sands off the wall in right to tie the game at 3-3. The Mariners had another opportunity to score after Polanco stole second and reached third on a ground ball which Ty France beat out at first. Dylan Moore would fly out to end the inning.
Ryne Stanek would come on in relief for the Mariners in the eighth, he gave up a one-out single to Jose Miranda, before Trevor Larnach untied the game with a two-run home run. As the Twins took a 5-3 lead going to the bottom of the eighth. The Mariners were unable to answer in the bottom half of the inning, as the Twins' reliever Kody Funderburk fired a scoreless eighth inning.
Jhoan Duran came on to close in the ninth for the Twins, with the Mariners trailing 5-3. Despite a couple of nice at bats from Cal Raleigh and Luke Raley, Duran was able to retire the Mariners in order in the ninth to get the save. The Twins took the series from the Mariners ending their streak of nine consecutive home-series wins. The Mariners open a three-game set with the Orioles on Tuesday at T-Mobile Park, as they continue this nine-game home stand.