After handling the Rockies, Seattle welcomed the Milwaukee Brewers into town. The current NL Central-leaders asserted their dominance over a team that had just won four in a row less than a week ago. Here is an in-depth look at the three-game series against old-friend Jesse Winker, Corbin Burnes and the Brewers.
The series opener was former Cy Young-winner Corbin Burnes up against Chris Flexen for the Mariners. Much like Robbie Ray, who Flexen is filling in for in the starting rotation, the “big inning” has come back to haunt Flexen in consecutive games. Monday’s "big inning" was the top of the second.
A double, single and fielder’s choice for the Brewers put them up 3-0 early in this one. Seattle was able to respond with one of their own in the home second on a Cal Raleigh solo homer, his second of the season.
Milwaukee continued to add on throughout the game, and after a thrilling weekend sweep of the Rockies, a cold and rainy Monday ended in a series-opening loss, 7-3 in favor of the Brewers.
After a punch in the gut Monday night, Seattle looked to rebound Tuesday night with Logan Gilbert on the bump against Milwaukee’s Colin Rea. As a majority of the city was tuned into the Seattle Kraken’s first-ever playoff win against the Colorado Avalanche, it was another chilly battle under the roof at T-Mobile Park.
The Brew Crew jumped out to another early lead. 2018 NL MVP Christian Yelich homered in the first and singled home a run in the third. Willy Adames scored Yelich on a double, and in the blink of an eye, the NL Central-leading Brewers were up 3-0. But then Seattle responded.
Christian Yelich high-fives his Brewers teammates in the dugout after hitting a home run Tuesday night. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)Photo: Getty Images
In the home third, Cal Raleigh doubled, Teoscar Hernandez hit a sacrifice fly, and Tommy La Stella (Huh?) gave the M’s a one-run advantage. Logan Glibert, outside of the two home runs allowed, was very good: eight strikeouts and no walks over six innings. The bullpen was also very good: one total hit allowed over five innings.
The score was knotted up at four, and this one was headed to extras. After both teams traded a run in the 10th, Seattle was unable to match Milwaukee’s one run in the 11th, despite having the bases loaded with Julio at the dish, and the M’s folded again, (now 0-4 in extra innings) and lost the middle game by a score of 5-6.
Marco Gonzales took the hill Wednesday in hopes of avoiding the sweep, and he was extremely solid. Through six plus innings, Marco matched his career high at nine Ks.
Mariners Rookie Jose Caballero lined a double down the left field line for his first base hit in the majors. Two batters later, Julio Rodriguez sent a 110-MPH missile just over the fence into the Brewers’ bullpen to give Seattle a 2-0 lead. It was Julio’s fourth home run of the season, and second in the series.
Julio Rodriguez emphatic after his laser two-run home run Wednesday afternoon. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)Photo: Getty Images
After Marco gave up two straight singles in the seventh, Matt Brash did the same, which allowed the crew to get within one. A batter later, and the Brewers took the lead on a two-run single by Bryce Turang, followed by a two-run single by pinch-hitter Rowdy Tellez. A two run Mariner lead, turned into a three-run deficit after the Crew was done in the seventh.
Seattle made some noise in the last half inning. A Ty France double, Eugenio Suarez hit-by-pitch and Teo Hernandez single loaded the bases. Jarred Kelenic laced a single to center to make it a two-run game, but consecutive pop outs ended this one with the based juiced again. It was a 5-3 series-sweeping win for the Brewers.
Seattle now welcomes in the St. Louis Cardinals after an off day tomorrow to wrap up the homestand before heading to Philly early next week.
Pitching matchups for the weekend series against St. Louis:
- Fri 4/21: RHP George Kirby (1-1, 3.78 ERA) vs. LHP Steven Matz (0-2, 6.48 ERA)
- Sat 4/22: RHP Luis Castillo (0-0, 0.73 ERA) vs. RHP Miles Mikolas (0-1, 8.10 ERA)
- Sun 4/23: RHP Chris Flexen (0-3, 7.79 ERA) vs. RHP Jack Flaherty (1-2, 2.95 ERA)
AL West Standings as of Wednesday afternoon:
- 1.Texas Rangers (12-6)
- 2.Los Angeles Angels (9-8)
- 3.Houston Astros (8-10)
- 4.Seattle Mariners (8-11)
- 5.Oakland Athletics (3-15)