Mariners unable to rise to the challenge in 6-3 loss to Guardians

The Seattle Mariners jump out to an early lead but are unable to hold on, as Luis Castillo has one of his worst starts of the 2024 season.

The three-game series versus the Guardians in Cleveland was seen as both a tough challenge, but also an opportunity. An opportunity for the Seattle Mariners to prove they can hold their own versus one of the best ball clubs in the Majors.

The Mariners were able to show this for one game at least, as they won the opener 8-5. However, they were shut out 8-0 on Wednesday night and then beaten 6-3 on Thursday afternoon, to ultimately lose the series to the Guardians.

The series finale couldn’t have started out much better for the Mariners, as Dylan Moore hit a two-run blast in the top of the first for an early 2-0 advantage. After the Guardians came back to tie the game at 2-2, the visitors then retook the lead in the top of the fourth, courtesy of a RBI double from Ryan Bliss.

The Rock breaks apart in Cleveland

However, that would be the end of the scoring for the Mariners. Combined with one of the worst starts of the season for Luis Castillo, this formula was never going to be good enough at the hardest ball park to win in the Majors.

Castillo’s outing was a tough one pretty much from the word go, as he gave up a run in each of the first and second innings. He seemed to regain some composure in the third and fourth, but fell apart an inning later, allowing three runs which gave the Guardians their first lead and ended his day.

The three-time All-Star’s 5.0 innings equalled his shortest start of the year, as he allowed eight hits and two walks. Most crucially of all, he also gave up five earned runs for the second time in three outings.

It’s still (relatively) early in the 2024 regular season, but it is worth noting Castillo is projected to finish with the worst statistical year of his time in Seattle. While the Mariners and their fans retain faith in him, you have to wonder if his time as staff ace is coming to an end.

Mariners manager Scott Servais is renowned for sticking up for his players, but still acknowledged where Castillo struggled on the day. Speaking to the media postgame, Servais said:

“He didn’t execute as well with the changeup as he’s usually doing, and the slider was hit or miss.”

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Guardians show why they’re tough to beat at home

At the same time, Servais gave appropriate credit to the Guardians. He said:

“When they’re hitting like that in their ballpark, it’s going to be tough to beat them. Every inning is a battle. They’re scrappy and they just keep coming.”

As for Castillo himself, he was fully aware of what caused him to struggle on the day. Speaking through an interpreter, he said:

“(You get through that lineup) by getting first-pitch strikes. Once you do that you’re able to get them to expand the zone. We wanted to do that, (but) my location just wasn’t where it needed to be.”

As Castillo laboured, Guardians starting pitcher Logan Allen overcame his early struggles to go 6.0 innings and record his eight win of the season. Speaking about Allen, Servais said:

“I thought we had great at-bats in the first couple innings, but then you put together a couple five- or six-pitch innings and you look up and he’s cruising.”

In theory the Mariners still had a chance of coming back when the score was 5-3 Guardians. However, Will Brennan’s solo bomb off reliever Trent Thornton in the bottom of the eighth provided the necessary cushion, to all but end the game.

With the loss the Mariners fall to 44-33 on the season, but still have an 8.0 game lead at the top of the AL West. Next up they begin a three-game series versus the Marlins in Miami on Friday evening, with George Kirby taking the mound.

How does the series loss in Cleveland impact your opinion of the Mariners? Are you concerned about their ability to be a genuine contender, view it as something they will build on, or just keeping a wait and see attitude? Let us know in the comments section below.