The Mariners have it all to do, as they lose their fourth consecutive game and fall further back in their quest for a playoff spot.
If it’s not time to be concerned yet, it sure feels like it. The Mariners appear to be falling apart at the very time they most need to hold it together.
Being swept by the Rangers undoubtedly put their division hopes in serious jeopardy. (Is there any other kind?) Regardless, the Mariners were still in control of their playoff destiny and coming back home to face the Astros.
After years of being dominated by the reigning World Series champions, the Mariners had managed to reverse the trend in impressive fashion. Heading into this three-game series, they had a 8-2 advantage over the Astros.
The Rock crumbles
In addition, the Mariners had their staff ace taking the mound. Unfortunately for everyone concerned though, Luis Castillo responded with one of his very worst outings of the season, when one of his best was required.
Castillo entered the game giving up two or less earned runs in five of his six previous starts. However, it took the Astros just two innings to surpass this total, with three runs in the top of the second.
When Yordan Alvarez made it 4-0 with a solo blast in the top of the third, the Mariners were officially in trouble. Kyle Tucker added another solo homer in the top of the sixth to make it 5-0 – Castillo and the Mariners were all but beaten.
The three-time All-Star allowed eight hits and one walk in total for his five earned runs. He did also throw eight strikeouts in his 6.0 innings of action, but this didn’t even qualify as a consolation.
From the perspective of Mariners manager Scott Servais, he still felt Castillo pitched well. Speaking postgame to the media, he said:
“I thought Luis Castillo’s stuff was as good as we’ve seen it all year. Unfortunately, he made a couple of mistakes in the middle of the plate with the fastball in the second inning there.”
In this respect, Castillo himself didn’t really pinpoint anything specifically that contributed to his outcome. Speaking through an interpreter, he said:
“I felt healthy and amped. You can tell with the velocity going up a little bit. (However) it doesn’t matter how you feel, sometimes it doesn’t go your way.”
No answer for Verlander
The Mariners offense — one day after putting up 13 hits and eight runs in Texas — just couldn’t get anything going. Justin Verlander was sublime on Monday night, giving up just three hits, a walk and one run in 8.0 standout innings.
As much as it doesn’t help the Mariners, respect goes to Servais for admitting the Astros were the better team. He said:
“We got beat. I mean, there’s no way around it.”
Despite equaling their season-worst four-game losing streak, the Mariners can still get back on track. They are 1.5 games behind the Astros for the final AL wild card spot, but can overtake them if they win the final two games of this series.
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Now or never for the Mariners
In this respect, Servais is taking a pragmatic approach to what lies ahead. He said:
“Really, a game at a time right now. You can’t look any further ahead. We need to win tomorrow’s game. That’s just where we’re at in our season.”
At the risk of sounding like hyperbole, Tuesday night’s game is now the biggest of the season, especially with just six remaining. Win and you’re right back in it; lose and it could be all but season over for any playoff hopes.
The Mariners will send George Kirby to the mound, as they aim to tie up this series. Kirby will be hoping to build on his last outing versus the Athletics, after struggling of late.
It’s essentially now or never for the Mariners. We’ve written it before but it’s worth repeating, that now we find out how much this team really wants it.
Where do the Mariners go from here? Do you faith in their ability to recover and make the playoffs, or is this the beginning of the end for their challenge? Let us know in the comments section below.
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