Mariners struggle with lineup down key pieces

SEATTLE -- The lack of punch in the Mariners’ lineup was glaring on Monday, and it was perhaps no coincidence that they couldn’t get much going in a 3-2 loss to the Twins.

Julio Rodríguez had his first scheduled off-day since an April 12 contest at the White Sox, a span of 55 games and just over two months. He pinch-hit in the ninth inning but struck out swinging over a splitter from Emilio Pagán, and Rodríguez entered the night in a 2-for-19 stretch and was slated for a rest day at some point during this 10-day, 11-game homestand.

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Mitch Haniger is still recovering from a Grade 2 high ankle sprain, and manager Scott Servais didn’t have much of an update on the right fielder’s progression. Haniger and Rodríguez would easily be Seattle’s two most significant run producers for the way its roster was constructed entering the season.

Kyle Lewis’ recovery from a concussion he suffered on May 28 has also loomed, given how threatening his presence proved in his short, four-game return. And Jarred Kelenic is still sorting things out in the Minor Leagues after being sent down exactly one month ago, along with a hamstring issue that sidelined him on Sunday.

The Mariners understand that there are no consolation prizes for a team battling without its best talent, yet in the immediate horizon, there are going to be more lineups similar to the one the club used on Monday than one that would include Haniger, Lewis and Kelenic.

And that’s what makes this June stretch critical, especially given that 14 of the Mariners’ next 26 games leading into the All-Star break are against teams within striking distance in the AL Wild Card standings, beginning with Minnesota. To navigate this stretch, Seattle needs nights similar to Saturday, when Abraham Toro tied the game with a double and Dylan Moore won it with a walk-off hit into the gap. Both players are ongoing fixtures in the lower part of the lineup, and they went a combined 0-for-6 on Monday.

Moore was the victim of an outstanding play in the fourth inning by Twins third baseman Gio Urshela, who made a diving snag on a ball scorched 103.5 mph with a 61% hit probability, per Statcast. Had it landed, Cal Raleigh on second base might’ve scored. And Adam Frazier had another tough one with one out in the eighth, when Luis Arraez bobbled the catch but kept it in front of him and was able to induce a forceout with J.P. Crawford lingering near first.

“We hit some balls hard,” Servais said. “You're looking for that one big hit to really bust open and put a three- or four-spot up there. ... We put some pressure on them but just didn't come up with a big hit tonight.”

Jesse Winker had an opportunity to deliver with two outs and the speedy Moore in scoring position on second base in the ninth inning. But Seattle’s big offseason acquisition swung through a 95.5 mph fastball from Pagán to end a seven-pitch sequence and the game.

“I don't know if guys are pressing,” Servais said. “I don't really feel that they are, but you’ve got to work your way through at-bats and get pitches to hit and not get away from your strengths. And at times, we've done that a little bit. It's human nature. Everybody wants to step up and be the guy to get it going in the right direction again. You’ve got to let the game come to you and not try to do too much in those spots.”

Across the diamond sat Minnesota, which wasn’t exactly lighting up the scoreboard either, going 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and stranding 10. But with one of the best Nos. 1-3 trios in the Majors, featuring Arraez, Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa, they were still able to manufacture enough runs to win, beginning with a two-run homer from the red hot Buxton in a full count off Chris Flexen in the first inning.

A frustrated Flexen was able to rebound and navigate four scoreless innings after the homer, stranding seven baserunners. Yet, for the eighth time in 12 starts, he received no more than one run of support.

“I mean, the first inning, that was the damage really. ... You bear down and try to execute and get outs,” Flexen said. “It doesn't stop there. As soon as you fold, that's when those runs continue to score after making good pitches.”

The Mariners fell to 3-24 in games in which they score three runs or fewer, which is not only glaring for how lopsided that record is but also because of how regularly they’re playing in such contests, nearly half their schedule to this point.

They need run producers, badly, and until their key contributors get healthy, those that are here now will continue to be tasked with the challenge.