SEATTLE -- It didn¡¯t stretch the length of that 18-inning playoff game between these teams three seasons ago, but Tuesday night¡¯s elongated contest between the Mariners and Astros certainly had many of the same ingredients.
It also had the same outcome for the home team at T-Mobile Park, albeit one not nearly as stinging as the one that ended Seattle¡¯s 2022 season.
Luis M. Castillo's five scoreless innings set the tone for a strong night by the pitching staff, but the Mariners couldn¡¯t come up with the big hit and let the Astros linger all night. Eventually, Houston broke through in the 12th inning to sink Seattle to a 2-1 loss.
New reliever Jesse Hahn surrendered a sacrifice bunt to Chas McCormick that allowed automatic runner Brendan Rodgers to reach third base, then with the infield in, Victor Caratini punched a single through the left-side hole for the game-winning knock.
That the game reached last-man-standing territory spoke just as much to the Mariners¡¯ continued struggles to cash in. Seattle went 1-for-19 with runners in scoring position, making them the first team this season to have that few hits and that many at-bats with RISP. The last team to go 1-for-19 with RISP was the Twins last Sept. 20.
The hefty volume on Tuesday dropped the Mariners¡¯ clip with RISP to MLB worsts in batting average (.121), slugging percentage (.143) and OPS (.391).
¡°When you have opportunities to do it, you've got to take advantage of it,¡± Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. ¡°And tonight, we just weren't able to do it.¡±
Asked if he¡¯s seeing things that the Mariners can improve upon in those moments, Wilson added: ¡°I know these guys are trying to make their adjustments. All we can do now is get ready for tomorrow and be ready for those situations tomorrow.¡±
The Mariners¡¯ most glaring chance to break through was in the 11th, when Julio Rodr¨ªguez reached third base by tagging up on a deep flyout from Cal Raleigh. But he was stranded 90 feet from walking it off when Mitch Garver hit into a 6-4-3 double play, after Randy Arozarena walked. They also had a runner on third in the 12th, Garver as the automatic runner, but at that point he represented the tying run.
It spoiled a few defensive gems that kept the game alive, too, none bigger than Dylan Moore igniting a 5-3 double play on a 108.3 mph chopper down the line -- and one that he didn¡¯t corral right away. Moore bobbled the scorcher at first but stuck with it then stepped on the bag as he barehanded the ball off the bounce and fired to Luke Raley to halt the bases-loaded threat.
¡°We just didn't get done,¡± Moore said. ¡°I just try to keep it simple like that. I'm not going to try to read too much into it. Just do better and get the hit.¡±
The ageless adage of ¡°it¡¯s early¡± certainly rings true, but for an offense with mostly the same personnel from last year -- and experiencing many of the same struggles -- Tuesday¡¯s loss gave doubters of the roster more fodder to feed on.
That said, the Mariners were without their leadoff man (Victor Robles will be sidelined for at least 12 weeks after suffering a fracture in his left shoulder on Sunday) and their hottest hitter (Jorge Polanco was out of the lineup again after making a one-game return from dealing with soreness in his side).
¡°Losing Vic is a huge blow,¡± Raley said. ¡°But everybody has injuries, right? It¡¯s part of the game and you have to adapt. I think everyone knows that they kind of have to step up.¡±
The Mariners¡¯ lone run scored in the seventh, when Raley ripped an infield single off the glove of Astros first baseman Christian Walker and allowed Garver to race home from home after he swiped second base -- just the third steal of his career. But then Raley was stranded on second base after a walk from J.P. Crawford and strikeouts from Ryan Bliss and Moore.
Hahn was on the hook for the loss in his second appearance since joining the club after a four-year absence. But given the context of how late he was called upon, and starting a clean inning with an inherited runner, he¡¯s certainly not at fault -- nor was the rest of the Mariners¡¯ pitching staff, especially a bullpen that¡¯s been heavily taxed, and as such, has experienced its hiccups in this young season.
So, the Mariners will go into the series finale seeking their first win in their third try in George Kirby¡¯s rotation spot, with Luis F. Castillo making his second career start.