SEATTLE -- After engineering a big come-from-behind win in the opening game of their doubleheader with the A¡¯s on Monday, the Mariners couldn¡¯t come up with any late-game magic in Game 2 as they dropped a 9-0 decision at T-Mobile Park.

After the long day, the Mariners remained 1 1/2 games back of the idle Astros in the chase for the No. 2 playoff spot in the American League West. At 22-26, the young Mariners are still within range of the 23-24 Astros with 12 games remaining, but they have their work cut out with a tough closing stretch that still includes four more games against the first-place A¡¯s to end the season.

? Box score

Both teams dealt with hazy conditions from the wildfires that have hit the West Coast for the past week. The Mariners certainly weren¡¯t bothered in their 6-5 comeback in Game 1, but they couldn¡¯t steer clear of some stellar pitching from veteran southpaw Mike Minor in the finale as they totaled just two hits in the seven-inning contest.

The doubleheader was a makeup for two of three postponed games from Sept. 1-3 when the A¡¯s had a player test positive for COVID-19. Rather than push up his rotation for the extra contest, manager Scott Servais went with a bullpen outing in the second game. Jimmy Yacabonis, who pitched the last three years for the Orioles, allowed one run in 1 1/3 innings as the spot starter while giving up two hits, three walks and a hit batter.

Things could have been a lot worse, but rookie Kyle Lewis went high above the wall in left-center to rob Ramón Laureano of a grand slam and get Yacabonis out of the first with just one run allowed.

? Lewis evokes Griffey with grand slam robbery

¡°The catch Kyle Lewis made was unbelievable,¡± Servais said. ¡°One of the best catches I¡¯ve ever seen, with the bases loaded on top of it. He makes that catch after the first inning and you think, ¡®Ah, this could be our day.¡¯ But it certainly wasn¡¯t in the second game.¡±

Seth Frankoff, who pitched the previous two years in Korea, replaced Yacabonis and allowed five runs on five hits and two walks in the third inning. Both right-handers were making just their second appearances for Seattle and had pitched just one inning of relief after being called up from the alternative training site.

¡°Our relievers struggled to throw strikes and stay in good counts, and you have to give them credit,¡± Servais said. ¡°They jumped on us there and put us away in that ballgame.¡±

? 1st base gets crowded on wonky Seattle play

The Mariners¡¯ bullpen was already thin after soaking up seven innings in Sunday¡¯s 7-3 win over the D-backs, when starter Justin Dunn lasted just two frames.

Brady Lail pitched the final four innings and gave up the final three runs on back-to-back homers by Mark Canha and Jake Lamb in the sixth, but Servais said the relief crew should be in decent shape as the club opens a two-game series with the Giants on Tuesday.