M's Win Series Against White Sox as Mediocrity and Inconsistency Continues

An overall successful home stand concluded yesterday, as the M’s went 4-2 in six games, where they won two out of three against the Miami Marlins and Chicago White Sox. After going 5-5 in their last ten games, Seattle is again right at the .500 mark with a record of 35-35. The ongoing inconsistency has been a major factor for the Mariners as we approach the all-star break.

This concept was in full display as the Chicago White Sox were in town. A victory on Friday night in the opener, despite leaving 11 on base, an extra innings loss on Saturday afternoon, while leaving 12 on base, and going 2-14 with runners in scoring position and a series finale victory even though Seattle struck out 18 times. See what I mean?

Here’s a look back at the series against the Sox, starting with Friday's matchup of Rookie Bryan Woo and righty Michael Kopech.

A scoreless game until the fifth, even though Seattle had plenty of opportunities with RISP. A Ty France double play nullified a scoring threat in the first, and with bases loaded and NO OUTS in the second, consecutive strikeouts and a ground out resulted in a goose egg for the home team.

Gavin Sheets got the scoring going in the top of the fifth with a 397-foot solo shot over the fence in center field. Seattle responded a half inning later after Julio Rodriguez doubled, and Teoscar Hernandez matched with a double of his own, easily scoring the speedy Rodriguez.

As Bryan Woo’s solid start was coming to an end, Andrew Benintendi smacked his first home run of the season to give CWS a one-run advantage. Woo ended Friday with a second-consecutive strong outing, allowing two earned runs, (both on the solo home run) over 5 2/3 innings, striking out nine, a career high.

The M’s made it at least a no-decision for Woo in the sixth, where Ty France singled home J.P. Crawford with two down to tie it up at 2-2. An inning later, after a scoreless seventh from Matt Brash, Teo (who has been on an offensive heater in June) stepped up to bat looking to give Seattle the lead for the first time Friday.

Off of lefty reliever Tanner Banks, Teo smashed an 0-1 fastball 432 feet dead center.

Andres Munoz struck out two of three in the eighth, and Paul Sewald matched Munoz with two K’s in the ninth of his own as Seattle took Friday’s game by one run, a final of 3-2 as T-Mobile was lit up with fireworks.

Logan Gilbert stood tall on the mound Saturday as he faced off against 2019 American League All-Star Lucas Giolito.

After Gilbert was able to work around a fielding error by Jose Caballero in the top of the first, J.P. Crawford wasted no time (or pitches for that matter) in the home first. He was rewarded with the trident and a shower of sunflower seeds after he hit one out to right on Giolito’s very first pitch Saturday afternoon. Seattle added one more on a passed ball by catcher Seby Zavala.

Big Eloy Jimenez got one back for the Sox on a solo home run to start the second inning.

Much like Friday, Seattle could not capitalize with runners on base and in scoring position throughout Saturday’s contest. Luis Robert Jr, the runner-up in AL Rookie of the Year voting to once-Mariner Kyle Lewis in 2020, tied the contest at two with a single.

In the fifth, after J-Rod singled and stole second, Teo again came through with an RBI single, giving the M’s a 3-2 lead. Gilbert’s day was done after 5 1/3 innings, where he gave up two earned runs, striking out three in the process.

CWS shortstop Tim Anderson injured himself in the third, and Rookie Zach Remillard entered an MLB game for the first time in his career… and he certainly made his presence known. Not only did he get his first career hit, he had the game-tying RBI single in Chicago’s last ups off of Paul Sewald.

The crucial killer inning for Seattle was in the bottom of the tenth. They had Julio on at second with the meat of the order due up. After France struck out, Chicago intentionally walked Teo. Cal Raleigh came into pinch hit for Jarred Kelenic (…why Scott???) and he struck out. Eugenio Suarez followed Cal with an inning-ending ground out.

Then, that Remillard guy came to bat again for the Sox in extras. Not only did he have the game-tying RBI in the ninth, but he also had the game-winning RBI off of Taylor Saucedo in the 11th. A debut for the ages as he had three hits and two runs batted in. Seattle couldn’t get it done in the home 11th despite the ghost-runner starting at second. A very winnable game resulted in a frustrating loss Saturday as the Sox won 4-3 in extras.

Father’s Day Sunday, and it was Rookie Bryce Miller up against the veteran Lance Lynn for Chicago.

Julio sliced a two-run double in the third inning that scored the Big Dumper and J.P. and Seattle took the lead 2-0. On a day where Seattle’s bullpen was quite limited due to usage the past two games, Miller showed up and out for his mom and dad who were in attendance Sunday afternoon.

He went seven strong innings, striking out six, allowing just one run on an Andrew Benintendi RBI single. Benintendi went 6-13 in the series off of Mariners' pitching.

Lance Lynn had himself not only a career performance, but almost a franchise record-breaking performance Sunday, where he struck out 16 Mariners. If it wasn’t for Miller’s awesome outing, this game could have been flipped on its head.

But to lead off the bottom of the eighth, Kolten Wong’s bunt single pushed Lynn out of the game after 114 pitches, ending his start one shy of the White Sox franchise record of 17 K’s by a single pitcher. Seattle took advantage of Lynn’s exit, as reliever Reynaldo Lopez walked France and Teo, and Kelenic tripled to left, which cleared the bases and gave Seattle a 5-1 lead, somehow, some way.

Rookie reliever Ty Adcock shut it down for the M’s, as they took the Father’s Day finale, and the series from the struggling White Sox.

The road (literally) ahead is daunting for Seattle. After an off-day Monday, Seattle is off to face the New York Yankees in the Bronx starting Tuesday and then head to Baltimore to take on the 44-27 Orioles before coming back to the PNW on June 25th.

The Yankees rank in the bottom third in team batting average at .230, but their pitching ranks fifth best in the league with a team ERA of 3.77. Here’s a look at the pitching probables for SEA @ NYY beginning Tuesday…

• Tuesday 6/20, 4:05 PM PT: George Kirby (6-5, 3.24 ERA) vs, Gerrit Cole (7-1, 2.75 ERA)
• Wednesday 6/21, 4:05 PM PT: Luis Castillo (4-5, 2.73 ERA) vs. TBD
• Thursday 6/22, 4:05 PM PT: Bryan Woo (0-1, 7.30 ERA) vs. Domingo German (4-4, 4.30 ERA)

American League West standings as of Monday afternoon:

• 1.Texas Rangers (44-27)
• 2.Los Angeles Angels (41-33), 4.5 GB
• 3.Houston Astros (39-33), 5.5 GB
• 4.Seattle Mariners (35-35), 8.5 GB
• 5.Oakland Athletics (19-55)