By Paul L. Taylor Posted on

Mariners end Red Sox series with disappointing 5-1 loss

The Mariners offense continues to give reasons for concern, as Enmanuel Valdez does the majority of the damage for the Red Sox.

For a team which is renowned for starting seasons slow under manager Scott Servais, a four-game split isn’t the worst outcome to begin the 2024 campaign. At the same time however, there is still plenty to be concerned about, specifically the Mariners lineup.

In two games — including Sunday’s series finale — the Mariners once managed to score once. They were fortunate to win Friday’s contest 1-0, thanks to a superior outing by George Kirby.

Yes the Mariners scored four runs in each of the other two games. However, in Saturday’s 4-3 win three of those runs came in extra innings, while the four runs in the home opener weren’t enough in a 6-4 loss.

Of course the hope is that it’s just a case of early days and the lineup finding their footing. At the same time however, the Mariners have to accept fans will be weary, purely based on the offensive inconsistency of previous seasons.

Servais, as you would expect, is remaining optimistic about the tepid start to 2024 by the lineup. Speaking to the media postgame, he said:

“Offensively, we just haven’t gotten it going yet. Again, it’s four games into the season. We need to be more consistent there in what we’re doing, and we will be. We have a good offense. We just didn’t get it going in this series.”

Sunday saw the Mariners collect just four hits in total, while being stuck out 10 times. Their only score came from Josh Rojas, arguably their best hitter so far this season, as his RBI single tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second.

One hit effectively wins the game

The Red Sox retook the lead in the top of the fourth, and as if to taunt the Mariners’ own offensive failings, what was the game-winning hit came courtesy of a player who had begun the season 0-for-8 at the plate. Enmanuel Valdez’s three-run bomb made it 4-1 and it was all but game over.

The Valdez homer summed up a tough outing for Bryce Miller on the mound. On the day he allowed six hits, two walks and four earned runs in 5.0 innings.

Miller did also manage six strikeouts, but ultimately he just couldn’t make up for the Mariners’ lack of offense. Speaking about his outing postgame to the media, he said:

“I just didn’t attack like I usually do. Just especially that fourth inning, the leadoff walk and then falling behind 3-1 and that one swing (by Valdez) was really the game.”

Not that it was needed on this particular day, but the Red Sox added on an insurance run in the top of the sixth, off Mariners reliever Cody Bolton. This closed out the scoring, in what was ultimately a 5-1 loss for the home ballclub.

The Mariners rotation is once again expected to be the strength of the roster in the coming months. And in fairness they have started off 2024 decently enough, ranking seventh in the Majors in team ERA and WHIP, as well as fifth in batting average and tied-second in strikeouts.

Mariners lineup needs to be better

However, this will only matter so much, if the lineup does not perform to the level it’s capable of on a consistent enough basis. One thing to watch for is Mitch Garver, who has the talent but is injury prone, and sat out all but one game of the Red Sox series due to back spasms.

For Sunday’s game specifically, Ty France had two of the team’s four hits. Speaking postgame about chasing balls in deep counts, he said:

“It’s just one of those things where we have to be a little more stubborn and really buy into the plan. Early I thought our bats were pretty good, but as the game went on it wasn’t as good.”

Servais always looks to sum up a game before taking any questions postgame. For Sunday’s contest, he said:

“Controlling the count is kind of our thing that we put pride in, but we did not do that today as good as usual … Again, not our best series, (but) you look up and we split it as a club which has a good offensive team, we have just not gotten it going yet.”

The Mariners will now look to get back on track with a three-game series versus the Cleveland Guardians, beginning on Monday night. Emerson Hancock will take the mound in his first start of 2024, with first pitch scheduled for 6:40 p.m. PT.

What stood out for you most in the four-game series versus the Red Sox, whether positive or negative? What’s your prediction for how the Mariners will fare, in their three-game home set against the Guardians? Let us know in the comments section below.

Some photos in this article are courtesy of @timothyrogersphotography.

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