After taking two of three from last year’s AL Central-winning Cleveland Guardians, Seattle took on the Chicago Cubs in Chi-Town for three before ending the brief road trip. Another extra-inning show down in game one, and embarrassment in game two and finally a smile after the finale. It was a series loss, but some momentum has peaked its head out as the M’s fly home to the PNW. Here’s a recap of the series against the Cubbies.
After Easter Sunday’s extra inning game against the Guardians, it was another neck-and-neck battle in the opener Monday against the Cubs.
Former-Mariner (if you can even call him that) Drew Smyly was making Mariner batters look silly through five innings. He handed out seven swinging strikeouts, while only allowing two hits. Luis Castillo has been one of the only bright spots for Seattle early into this season, made his third start: six innings, two earned, five strikeouts.
The Cubbies had a 1-2 lead going into the eighth, and Jarred Kelenic introduced himself to Wrigley. A mammoth solo home run knotted this game at two, and for Seattle’s second consecutive game, this one was going to extras.
After the M’s yet again failed to produce a single run, despite having the ghost runner start at second in extras, Chicago got it done on their end in the home half. Nico Hoerner looped a base hit to right, and the Cubs took game one, a 3-2 final.
Middle game against the Cubs last night couldn’t have started better for a team that has been struggling offensively. The M’s bolted out to a 7-0 lead through just two innings thanks to RBIs from Eugenio Suarez, Ty France, Cal Raleigh, Teo Hernandez and Kolten Wong.
It was all Seattle early…and that was until the bottom of the third - an absolute Mariner meltdown. Chicago rattled off eight runs on eight hits, including a grand slam by Nelson Velazquez.
Nelson Velazquez shows his emotion after a grand slam on Tuesday night in Wrigley. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
Then it got worse for the team that was initially up a touchdown. Chicago scored two more in the fifth, and three more in the sixth. After 18 total hits by the Cubs, they took their second in a row from Seattle, by a score of 14-9.
After a nail-biter on Monday and complete fall-apart yesterday, it was Logan Gilbert trying to salvage a win for Seattle before heading back to T-Mobile Park tomorrow.
The Cubbies scored on a sac fly in the first, but the M’s responded in the third with two, thanks to Geno & Teo’s RBI singles. Seattle added one more in the seventh, as Gilbert’s day came to a close. He was solid: six plus innings (longest this year by a Mariner starter), one earned run, seven strikeouts. Matt Brash inherited two of Logan’s baserunners in the seventh, and got out of the frame, no stress.
Teo Hernandez and Jarred Kelenic (third consecutive game with HR, this one 482 feet!) both mashed back-to-back nukes in the eighth… and I mean MASHED.
Teoscar Hernandez and Jarred Kelenic celebrate after they both hit back-to-back solo home runs Wednesday afternoon. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)
A 5-2 series finale victory for the M’s thanks to Logan Gilbert, Jarred Kelenic and company.
Seattle (5-8) is headed home to face the Colorado Rockies (5-7) to start a nine-game homestand.
Pitching Matchups for SEA vs COL:
- Friday 4/14: Marco Gonzales (1-0) vs Austin Gomber (0-2)
- Saturday 4/15: George Kirby (0-1) vs Ryan Feltner (0-1)
- Sunday 4/16: Luis Castillo (1-0) vs TBD
AL West Standings as of Wednesday afternoon:
- 1.Texas Rangers (7-4)
- 2.Los Angeles Angels (6-5)
- 3.Houston Astros (6-7)
- 4.Seattle Mariners (5-8)
- 5.Oakland Athletics (2-9)