Mariners: Gonzales struggles and sloppy play leads to loss in Texas

The Mariners see their nine-game winning streak versus the Rangers come to an end, as Marco Gonzales implodes in the fourth inning and the team makes too many mistakes.

As the saying goes, nothing good lasts forever. However, there was still some element of surprise when the Mariners lost 7-4 to the Rangers on Saturday night.

Entering the evening with nine consecutive wins over their AL West rivals, Seattle was understandably confident. In the end however, they were undone by Marco Gonzales‘ poor fourth inning and sloppy play from the team in general.

Early on the Mariners seemed set to improve their win streak to 10 versus the Rangers, as they took a 3-0 lead. In fact it arguably should have been more, if they’d taken full advantage of a bases loaded situation in the top of the first.

The turning point

In addition, Gonzales came out firing. Through the first three innings he allowed just one hit; then came the fourth.

Everything that could go wrong for the 30-year-old, did. He faced eight hitters in the fateful fourth inning, with each of them putting the ball in play.

When it was all said and done in the fourth, the Rangers had scored four runs and erased the Mariners’ lead. In fairness to Gonzales though, it wasn’t all on him.

For example, two fly balls dropped for doubles in left field where Jesse Winker was placed. As has been pointed out repeatedly of late by local media, Winker is a liability in left field and needs to be removed from the position urgently.

Gonzales summed up the fourth when speaking to the media afterwards, though making sure not to criticize the defense. He said:

“I think we were uber aggressive in the early part of the count in that fourth inning. We just couldn’t land a pitch in the zone to start the count. (Also), we didn’t have a ball go our way … we ran into some tough luck, and they had some timely hitting as well.”

Gonzales allowed another score in the fifth, leading to his removal from the game at the end of the inning. His final stat line showed nine hits, five earned runs and just two strikeouts.

That the Rangers would see their losing streak to the Mariners end with the southpaw on the mound actually makes sense. At least if you base it on his play versus them this season in general.

Gonzales has now actually faced the Rangers five times in 2021, with the team going 2-3 as a whole. (His record specifically versus Texas this year is 1-2.) He has allowed an average of seven hits per contest and recorded an overall ERA of 5.16.

Some short-lived hope

Even after Gonzales left, Seattle was still in with a chance, trailing just 5-3. They gave themselves some hope in the top of the sixth, courtesy of Eugenio Suarez’s solo blast.

However, it ultimately proved to be the Mariners’ final run on the night. In addition, their bullpen put in an uncharacteristically poor stint.

Penn Murfee came in to pitch the sixth, subsequently allowing two hits and an earned run which increased Texas’ lead to 6-4. He was followed by Chris Flexen, making his first appearance out of the bullpen this year.

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Flexen went on to only allow one hit in two innings, but also drew four walks. As if to highlight the theme of the evening, another mistake — this time a throwing error by Cal Raleigh — resulted in the seventh and final run of the game for Texas.

Manger Scott Servais made no excuses, when talking about the game afterwards. He said:

“Not our crispest game obviously. We made a few errors and didn’t play like we typically play. (Having said that) we did some good things offensively the first couple of innings. We had chances to maybe add on there and create a little more separation. Give them credit, they got on Marco. They found some holes, they hit some balls hard; a mixture of things there. Their bullpen shut us down at the end. Uncharacteristic of how we’ve been playing, making a couple of errors, walks out of the bullpen. Just things like that, that we haven’t done. You have those games once in a while and they’re not fun. I wish we could play perfect every night, but not the case.”

With the Mariners winning on Friday night, Sunday afternoon’s game will now determine who takes the series. Logan Gilbert will start for the visitors and the Rangers will counter with the excellent Martin Perez.

Seattle is 11-2-1 in their previous 14 series, but it is about the here and now. A logjam is forming in the AL in the race for the three wild card spots and every win is becoming increasingly important.

What stood out for you most in the Mariners’ 7-4 loss to the Rangers? What is your prediction for the series finale on Sunday in Texas? Let us know in the comments section below.