MLB Team Report – Seattle Mariners – INSIDE PITCH
The Mariners continue to struggle to hit with men in scoring position, and they added a new problem Tuesday, a lack of contact.
Seattle came into the series opener against the Los Angeles Angels having collected just one hit with men in scoring position in a three-game weekend series against the Texas Rangers, and things didn’t get much better against in Anaheim.
The Mariners’ skid reach 1-for-47 before Franklin Gutierrez hit a run-scoring double in the seventh inning. Two outs later, Justin Smoak added another hit with a runner in scoring position, a two-run homer, but Seattle wound up on the short end of a 5-4 decision.
On the night, Seattle went 2-for-13 with a man on second, third or both.
Manager Eric Wedge keeps talking about how his hitters need to fight through at-bats, but that didn’t happen Tuesday. Seattle fanned 13 times in the first five innings against Angels right-hander Zack Greinke and wound up matching the big-league record for a nine-inning game with 20 strikeouts.
“It was an odd game,” Wedge said. “We are getting guys on base; we have got to battle through at-bats.”
The Mariners left eight men on base against the Angels after leaving 19 on base in the Texas series.
Seattle won two of the three against the Rangers, but with some more timely hitting, the Mariners could be sitting on a four-game winning streak.
Instead, the Mariners suffered their 82nd loss and are guaranteed a third consecutive losing season.
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MLB Team Report – Seattle Mariners – NOTES, QUOTES
–1B Justin Smoak homered from both sides of the plate, becoming the first Mariner to do so since David Segui in 1998. Smoak is on a major stampede in the final month, going 21-for-58 (.362) in September. Since Sept. 13, he’s 17-for-36 (.472).
–C Miguel Olivo got a start in part because of pass success against Zack Greinke, and the move paid off. Olivo doubled in his first two at-bats against Greinke, making him 4-for-7 against the Angels right-hander for his career. He added a single later in the game against the bullpen.
–RHP Erasmo Ramirez had allowed only four homers in 46 2/3 innings in the big leagues before giving up a pair of long balls Tuesday. The 22-year-old rookie came into the game against the Angels with a 1.69 ERA in his last five games before giving up five runs (three earned) in six innings during a 5-4 loss.
–DH John Jaso’s single in the first inning means he’s reached base safely in 70 of 78 starts for Seattle this year, including 36 of 41 times while serving as the designated hitter. Since the All-Star break, his .416 on-base percentage is second in the AL only to the .446 mark of Tigers 1B Prince Fielder (minimum 75 at-bats).
–OF Michael Saunders was back at home in Colorado to be with his wife upon the birth of the couple’s first child, a girl, Tuesday morning. There is no set schedule for Saunders’ return.
–C/DH Jesus Montero got the day off with C Miguel Olivo behind the plate and C John Jaso serving as the designated hitter. “This is good for Jesus, with a day off yesterday and again today,” manager Eric Wedge said Tuesday.
–2B Dustin Ackley was held out of the lineup Saturday and Sunday with neck stiffness, but he was back in action Tuesday. He had a double and scored a run but also struck out four times, part of the record-tying 20 strikeouts put up by Mariners hitters.
BY THE NUMBERS: 14 — Consecutive games with homers for Seattle, a season best.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “He deserved a better fate than that.” — Manager Eric Wedge, on RHP Erasmo Ramirez, the losing pitcher Tuesday against the Angels.
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MLB Team Report – Seattle Mariners – ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
–2B Dustin Ackley (neck stiffness) was lifted after three innings Sept. 21. He didn’t play Sept 22-23. He was back in the starting lineup Sept. 25.
–RHP Kevin Millwood (right shoulder tightness) left his Sept. 12 start due to the ailment. He hasn’t pitched since, and it’s not clear when he’ll be ready to return.
–LHP George Sherrill (strained left elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 10, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on June 1. He underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery in early May.
ROTATION:
RHP Felix Hernandez
LHP Jason Vargas
RHP Hisashi Iwakuma
RHP Blake Beavan
RHP Erasmo Ramirez
RHP Kevin Millwood
BULLPEN:
RHP Tom Wilhelmsen (closer)
LHP Lucas Luetge
LHP Charlie Furbush
LHP Oliver Perez
RHP Josh Kinney
RHP Stephen Pryor
RHP Carter Capps
RHP Shawn Kelley
RHP Hector Noesi
CATCHERS:
Miguel Olivo
Jesus Montero
John Jaso
INFIELDERS:
1B Justin Smoak
2B Dustin Ackley
SS Brendan Ryan
3B Kyle Seager
INF Mike Carp
INF Munenori Kawasaki
INF Luis Jimenez
INF Carlos Triunfel
INF Alex Liddi
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Michael Saunders
CF Franklin Gutierrez
RF Eric Thames
OF Trayvon Robinson
OF Casper Wells
OF Carlos Peguero
OF/INF Chone Figgins
