Kyle Seager belted a three-run homer in the first inning and a solo shot in the sixth, but the Mariners (11-15) could do little else offensively Wednesday and dropped their fifth consecutive game, a 5-4 decision to the Tampa Bay Rays. The streak, following four wins in a row to start the current 10-day, 10-game road trip, is a season high.
Seattle has never been swept in a four-game series by Tampa Bay, but that could happen Wednesday morning (10:05 a.m.) when the Mariners and Rays conclude this four-game set.
Trailing 5-4 heading into the bottom of the eighth, the Mariners had a chance to tie or take the lead when they placed runners on the corners with one out. But neither Alex Liddi nor Justin Smoak could produce a clutch hit.
In the ninth, the Mariners went down in order when Michael Saunders whiffed, pinch hitter Mike Carp grounded out and Chone Figgins struck out.
James Shields, who allowed four earned runs over 6.0 innings, improved to 5-0, 3.70, while Seattle starter Blake Beavan, who worked 5.1 innings, allowing five earned runs on seven hits, including two home runs, took the loss, his third of the year against one victory.
Seager drove in all the runs with his two homers, and added a single for a 3-for-4 night. But the Mariners could produce only four other hits, two by Ichiro (who raised his average to .312), none for extra bases. It marked the third consecutive game that the Mariners whacked multiple home runs for naught, and continued a trend of clutch-batting feebleness.
The Mariners went 2-for-6 with runners in scoring position, stranded six and struck out 14 times. The Mariners have whiffed 53 times in the past five games, including 38 in the past three.
“The strikeouts to me are ridiculous right now,” said manager Eric Wedge. “This is not going to continue to happen.”
Figgins, who did not play Tuesday after an 0-for-6 Monday, fanned three times, went 0-for-4, and is 0-for-14 since belting a leadoff home run April 29. SS Brendan Ryan also whiffed three times and is hitless in his last 26 at-bats. Figgins is hitting .198, Ryan .125 (DH Justin Smoak splits the difference at .184).
“We’ll give him (Figgins) another chance to see if he can get himself going, but this doesn’t last forever,” added Wedge. “This is all about production. If this continues, ultimately we’ll have to change their (Figgins and Ryan) roles. These guys have to show me they deserve to keep on playing.”
The Mariners put up three runs in the first after Figgins and Dustin Ackley struck out. Ichiro walked on a full count, advanced to second on Jesus Montero’s infield single, and both scored when Seager homered on a down-and-in fastball to right on a full count. Seager’s home run, his second of the season, snapped an 0-for-30 streak the Mariners had going with runners in scoring position.
The Rays got to Beavan in the third when Jose Molina singled and scored on a two-run homer by Sean Rodriguez. Tampa got two more runners aboard but Beavan retired Carlos Pena to end the threat.
The Rays picked up two more runs and took a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the fourth when Molina smacked a two-run double following singles by Luke Scott and Will Rhymes. Molina got as far as third on a passed ball by Montero (Seattle’s American League-leading seventh of the season), but Beavan got out of the inning.
Seager ripped his second homer of (and third of the year) on a 1-0 count to lead off the sixth, tying the score at 4, but Scott went yard on a full count to give Tampa a 5-4 advantage in the bottom of the sixth. After Rhymes singled, Beavan departed. Du kan helt enkelt välja ett av våra olicensierade casino, som accepterar nordiska spelare och ger en exceptionell upplevelse där du får fortsätta njuta av dina favoritspel säkert på det bästa onlinekasinot utan svensk licens .
The Mariners got Ichiro aboard in the eighth after a successful bunt down the third-base line. Ichiro got into scoring position on a wild pitch and advanced to third when Seager collected his third hit, a single to left. With runners on the corners and one out, Liddi popped out to the catcher and Smoak flew out to right.
Seattle Thursday will start Kevin Millwood (0-2, 5.24) opposite Jeff Niemann (1-3, 3.86). The Mariners begin a three-game series with the Minnesota Twins, who were no-hit Wednesday bu the Angels’ Jared Weaver, Friday (7:10 p.m.) at Safeco Field.
2 Comments
The team needs to bench non-performers. At s/s they have two subs that probably won’t go 0-ever. Bench Ryan. There are hitters sitting on the bench that can out perform Smoak. He is so in love with the power, that he is not learning to hit because he is so strong. Every once in a while he will send one. The rest of the time, he just strikes out. They have Luso on the bench as well as Lippi. The little ball of fire from Japan and I can’t remember, since he hasn’t played in so long, but like Rodriguez or some such.
In the short career of Smoak, the defenses already have him figured out. They do the extreme shift because he hasn’t learned to hit to the opposite field. Send him back to 3-A for instruction.
We have the much sought after pitcher from Japan that can’t get into a game to save his life.Subsitute him for one of the losers in the rotation. The team is rebuilding. So don’t stay with veterans that can’t hit. Trade Ryan to a team that can afford his lack of hitting for his defense. We can’t. Get rid of Chone Figgins. Even though he is doing a little better this year, he ain’t taking 3rd away from Seager. We have more outfielders than we need. When gutierriz comes back, he will claim Center field. Move Saunders to left and you have a highly paid nonp-performer on the bench. I’ve never heard of a lead off hitter with a b/s at or below .200. Sheesh!
I don’t see a lot of confidence in this team. Clubs like the Rangers and Rays take the field with a swagger while this club still has that AAA look in them. I think at some point the coaches need to tell those players that it’s time to be accountable and play like an MLB player. The time to allow for growing pains has passed.
This team needs a moment like the brawl in 1993 with Baltimore. When that happened all the players that Lou brought in, like Eric Anthony, Norm Charlton, Mike Felder, Chris Bosio and Bill Hasselman, were the ones to mix it up the most. After that brouhaha the team’s attitude changed and they learned how to fight for a win. (no pun intended) I’m not seeing that kind of fire in the Mariners right now. Not even in Figgins. The only time I really see it is with Felix and occasionally Ichiro but he’s naturally low key so it’s hard to say with him.
Makes me wonder if the club might be accepting their current ways.