Not only can’t the Mariners hit, on Sunday they couldn’t pitch, either. No. 5 starter Aaron Harang and former No. 5 Blake Beavan collaborated to issue four home runs, the killer Harang’s grand-slam gopher offering to Nelson Cruz, as the Mariners were broomed by the Texas Rangers, 11-3. Seattle’s most lopsided loss of the season followed back-to-back 7-0 and 5-0 losses.
With the defeat, Seattle’s third debacle in a row and fifth loss in six games, the Mariners dropped to 7-13, three games behind their 2012 mark after 20 (10-10). The Mariners were 5.5 games behind in the division race after 20 last year, and are six behind this season. The way they’ve not played, they are fortunate to be that close.
Harang (0-2) pitched effectively through the first three innings, but then allowed seven earned runs, including five in the fifth, over the next two. He went 4.2 innings and allowed eight earned runs on eight hits with five strikeouts and two walks. He surrendered three home runs and departed with a 10.24 ERA.
Aside from two early runs, Mariners hitters failed (again) to give Harang and his replacement, Beavan, much support. Seattle batters fanned 11 times and went 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
The Mariners snapped their scoring drought after 19 innings, tallying an unearned run in the first off starter and winner Justin Grimm (1-0). Endy Chavez reached on a two-base error and scored on Kyle Seager’s double. Seager extended his hitting streak to 10 games, finishing with three hits and driving in two of Seattle’s three runs.
Leonys Martin homered off Harang in the third to tie the score at 1. The Rangers came back with two more in the fourth on Mitch Moreland’s two-run homer to center on a 2-and-1 count.
Chavez, getting the start in center in place of Franklin Gutierrez, brought home Brendan Ryan (single) with a double in the fifth, but Texas drew a five-spot in the bottom of the inning on a run-scoring single by Ian Kinsler and Cruz’s salami, the first by the Mariners this season.
After Moreland reached on Ryan’s error and Harang walked catcher Geovany Soto on a full count, manager Eric Wedge yanked Harang. Beavan was victimized by former Mariners third baseman Adrian Beltre with a two-run bomb to make it 10-2.
The Rangers added an insult run in the eighth, an RBI single by Jeff Baker, and Seager only delayed the inevitable when he hit a solo homer off Michael Kirkman in the ninth.
The Mariners continue their six-game road trip through Texas Monday when they begin a three-game series with the last-place Houston Astros, who took two of three at Safeco Field April 8-10.
Felix Hernandez (1-2), coming off a 12-strikeou, no-decision against Detroit April 17, will oppose Brad Peacock (1-1, 5.27), who has yet to get past five innings this season.
NOTES: Manager Eric Wedge gave CF Franklin Gutierrez another day off to rest Gutierrez’s sore legs, which have bothered him since spring training. Gutierrez has started just three of Seattle’s last nine contests, with Endy Chavez (1-for-5 Sunday) getting the bulk of work in center field. Wedge finally acknowledged Sunday that Gutierrez may be headed toward another stint on the disabled list . . . When the Mariners sustained back-to-back blankings Friday and Saturday, it marked the 32nd time in club history the club failed to score in consecutive games. The Mariners have never suffered three straight goose-egg games.
22 Comments
Even though the Mariners are playing–statistically–perhaps worse than even last year, I have a feeling this year that may not be as indicative this early in the season. I could see them reeling off a seven to ten game winning streak and even pushing beyond fourth place. Still, I no longer can bring myself to listen to Rick Rizzs. I cringe with embarrassment for him, having to call the Mariners year and year and put a positive, smiley-face on this franchise.
I didn’t think you could finish an entire comment without heckling someone/something. But your point is why I always appreciated Niehaus. He was a club employee too, but he could have moments of honesty.
And, don’tcha think he could, and did, always get to the poetics of the Game, transcending the Kingdome, the record, the owners, the parochial ineptness. He celebrated the boys of summer, sustained the mythic contexts of hope and heroes. Miss him.
I think you misinterpreted my statement. I was trying to show compassion for Rick Rizzs.
Fair point. I wasn’t ready for compassion from you.
Maybe Clay Bennett will buy the M’s for a song and move ’em to OK. Then, a few years later, someone in Seattle can get another city’s struggling franchise.
How’s that saying go about fooling us once . . .. ?
Time for another change. Something is wrong with the Chemistry. They don’t look like they are having fun or have any swagger.
What swagger are you expecting from players ensconced in the culture that is the Mariners? That is a huge part of the problem. The franchise has fallen so far into a hole that it becomes harder and harder to dig out because the expectations of the Mariners and opponents is that, one way or another, the Mariners will find a way to lose. This also does not help in the free-agent market. It is kind of like the Mariners are trying to swim out of a whirlpool. In fact, I truly believe that good players and competent managers have their careers ruined, or substantively set back, simply by association with the franchise. It permeates.
I agree. Seattle has become a place where expectations and careers die. We need Hansen or Cuban or an owner that cares about rings. Even the Sounders are working hard at getting rings. It isn’t easy to pull off, but I feel like we would be better off with bringing the AAA coaches up. They know the players and will help build confidence. (But in saying that, we need a manager that has 2 or 3 rings, I wouldn’t event mind getting Torre out of retirement). Wedge is a Wedgie. He needs to go. I feel like we have good young talent, but their heads are all messed up. I would start with burning the nasty teal Friday uniforms on the pitchers mound and re-designing the uniforms. I don’t even know who we compare to these days. The promise of spring was a mirage. Guti is a glass shelf player. Just waiting to break.
Now there is what Hansen should be doing. He should buy the Mariners!
If not Hansen…SOMEbody, somebody, please!
Agreed; It is a culture of loserville, and, like all corporate culture, it starts at the top. No corporate/community culture is different from what is modeled at the top. And here, it’s old-school corporate hierarchy that still tosses around old-school words and dogma like “insubordination” as the unforgivable sin, where obeisance to the top dog is the coin of the realm. The Clowns at the top have run the franchise into the mudflats. New ownership = new culture. Old ownership = culture of baseball idiocy. Board members, minority owners: BE insubordinate; pay homage to the fans and the Game alone!
Being devil’s advocate here: They also produced the 2001 season. Then to the reverse: That was 12 years ago.
But, wasn’t the -01 season largely the Ellis/Gillick leftovers, pre-the “insubordinate” Lou disaster Lincoln committed? Seems the Clowns disenfranchised everybody who could help the franchise. Quite a feat.
I still prefer he fix the seawall . . . .
It has to do far more with player talent than managers, coaches, confidence and uniforms. The Mariners spent a decade squandering baseball talent (including Fister, Lee and maybe Pineda). Can’t catch up.
The franchise reputation shows every free agent signing period.
Ouch. Dbl ouch. Doesn’t seem like a thing an organization can ease out of gradually. The franchise will be the same or be different– can’t see it evolving or emerging or transiting or any other corporate buzz word that suggest meaningful change happening incrementally.
I really don’t like these owners.
They had it in spring, according to everyone who was there. Not a big believer in chemistry as decisive.
I seem to recall Billy Martin’s teams often hated each other…
Looking at how Michael Young is performing I wonder if the M’s ever considered bringing him in to play 3B and moving Seager to SS? Because Ryan is a liability at the plate. And they had a squeeze play opportunity with him but didn’t do it, probably because he muffed a bunt attempt the day before. I don’t get why he keeps getting to play every day. And at some point Morse and Ackley are going to have to be benched if their bats don’t come around. Looks like Wedge has already benched Montero.
Ryan may indeed whiff his way out of a job. Love the glove, but Andino at the plate would only the teensiest upgrade.