Mariners suffer frustrating 4-3 extra innings loss to Athletics

The Mariners see their four-game winning streak end due to a number of mistakes, particularly in the bottom of the fifth and the top of the 10th.

Entering Saturday’s game, the Mariners led the Majors with 27 one-run wins and a one-run win percentage of .659. They proceeded to receive a taste of their own medicine, as the Athletics beat them 4-3 in extra innings.

As a result, Seattle saw their winning streak at the Oakland Coliseum end at 10 games. More frustrating for the team and their fans alike, the loss was of their own doing.

A decent enough start

The game began well enough for Seattle, as they took a 1-0 lead in the first thanks to Julio Rodriguez. He started the game with a triple and was subsequently brought home, after Ty France’s sacrifice fly to right center field.

Rodriguez would end the game with three hits which, while it didn’t help Seattle win, was still important for him. Prior to Saturday, he was hitting just .206 since his return from a wrist injury.

The Mariners struck again in the top of the fourth to make it 2-0, through a re-energized Eugenio Suarez. He hit a triple and then scored, courtesy of a sacrifice fly to deep left field from Adam Frazier.

A mistake-ridden fifth

Unfortunately for Seattle, the tide turned in the bottom of the fifth. While Logan Gilbert wasn’t quite in top form on the day, it was the play of the defense which was his ultimate undoing, specifically in this inning.

The troubles began, when Frazier accidentally booted a ground ball and Vimael Machin reached base on the fielding error. Joan Bride then hit a single which sent Machin to third base.

The next mistake came on a play which looked certain to get the first out for Seattle, as Nick Allen hit a soft liner. However, Jake Lamb couldn’t track the ball property due to the outfield sun, and it bounced in front of him to score Machin and make it 2-1.

Although mistakes do happen from time to time, it was still a surprise. The Mariners entered the game tied for the best fielding percentage in the Majors, at .990.

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While there were no more mistakes in the inning the damage was done, as a galvanized Oakland team took advantage. After Cal Stevenson’s sacrifice bunt put Bride and Allen in scoring position, Tony Kemp’s single brought them both home for a 3-2 lead.

Gilbert did go on to finish the inning, but the decision was made to then take him out of the game. Manager Scott Servais said he was starting to tighten up after being hit in the rear by a ball, and they didn’t want to push it.

Gilbert is undoubtedly still one of the best pitcher’s in Seattle’s rotation, with his final stat line looking decent enough. He allowed six hits and three runs — two earned — in five innings, while walking no one and striking out four.

As you’d expect, Gilbert was asked about the uncharacteristic mistakes by his defense in the fifth. He said:

“This defense is the best in the league. They’ve picked me up so many times, so it’s not something to worry about. That’s baseball – it happens. The sun out there (didn’t help), but it’s nothing to worry about (overall). Those guys behind me are really good.”

The Mariners display their usual fight

Despite falling behind, the Mariners were still in it. And they came back as they almost always do, with Suarez’s RBI single in the top of the eighth tying the game at 3-3.

The game eventually went to extra innings, but the mistakes returned for Seattle in the top of the 10th. After starting on second base, France attempted to reach third following a Mitch Haniger hit but never made it, giving Oakland their second out

With Haniger on first, J.P. Crawford came to the plate. He hit the ball hard, but unfortunately for the shortstop it went straight to Bride, for the final out.

In the bottom of the 10th, the Mariners turned to the usually reliable Diego Castillo. It just wasn’t meant to be though, as he loaded the bases with no outs thanks to two walks, albeit one was intentional.

Athletics’ DH Sheldon Neuse then came to the plate and hit a funky high bouncer, which Castillo wasn’t able to handle cleanly. This allowed Kemp to score and clinch the walk-off win for the home side.

Servais was somewhat frustrated — at least for him — afterwards, when speaking to the media. He said:

“To win games with how we are wired, we need to play clean baseball. We gave up free bases today and we walked four guys. I don’t care who you are playing, you can’t give away free bases and they took advantage of it.”

As a result of the loss, the Mariners dropped to the second wild card spot in the AL. It is vitally important they win the series finale on Sunday, and will send Luis Castillo to the mound.

What was your main takeaway from Saturday’s loss in Oakland? How confident are you the Mariners will win the series in Sunday afternoon’s rubber match? Let us know in the comments section below.