The Seattle Mariners are struggling to maintain momentum, suffering a 5-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates that has left fans and the team alike feeling the sting of disappointment.
Following this latest setback, which marks the Mariners’ fourth consecutive loss, Scott Servais offered a somber update on the team’s current state. This loss caps off a challenging 60-day stretch in which Seattle set an unfortunate MLB record, blowing a 10-game lead faster than any team in history. Now trailing the surging Houston Astros by three games, the Mariners’ playoff odds have plummeted from over 90% to a mere 25%.
The game against Pittsburgh started with promise. Logan Gilbert came out strong, striking out the first four batters he faced, and delivering the two fastest pitches of his career. Meanwhile, the Mariners’ offense put pressure on Pirates’ starter Paul Skenes, getting four baserunners in the first two innings. However, despite this encouraging start, the game took a familiar, disappointing turn.
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Gilbert, known for his explosive starts, began to fade as the game progressed. After a dominant beginning, it took him three more innings to record another strikeout. Along the way, he surrendered a crucial walk that eventually scored and gave up a home run to a batter with a wRC+ under 60. Gilbert’s final line—6.1 innings pitched, 4 runs, 5 hits, 2 walks, and 6 strikeouts—ended up being underwhelming against a struggling Pittsburgh offense.
On the offensive side, despite working Skenes through a tough outing that included four walks and a hit batter, the Mariners managed to score just two runs off him, both coming from a towering home run by Luke Raley. Raley was the bright spot for Seattle, earning the game’s Sun Hat Award for his clutch homer and a solid defensive play at the dugout rail in the second inning. He also added a sharp single in the ninth, but by then, the game was out of reach.
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Unfortunately, not everyone had a night to remember. Dominic Canzone, playing on his birthday, had a rough outing. In two high-leverage at-bats, he grounded into a double play on the first pitch in the sixth inning and struck out in the ninth. His struggles extended to the field as well, where a misplay allowed two critical runs to score. Canzone’s defensive miscue—overrunning the ball, which then bounced off his wrist and head—was emblematic of the Mariners’ recent woes.
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As the Mariners continue to falter, fans are left to wonder when, or if, the team will bounce back. Servais’ concern is palpable, as the Mariners’ playoff hopes hang in the balance. For now, all the team can do is regroup and try to find the spark that has been missing during this brutal stretch.
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