Mariners avoid Rays sweep with 5-2 win in series finale

The Seattle Mariners end a poor road trip on a positive note, as George Kirby excels and Cal Raleigh has the key hit in a crucial win.

Okay, let’s get the negative stuff out of the way first of all. There is no way around the reality that it’s tough to excuse the Seattle Mariners for their overall record during this nine-game road trip.

Yes, losing a series to the Cleveland Guardians is one thing, but the Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays? There is no way a contender should be losing series versus two ball clubs with among the worst home records so far this season.

As a result of the Mariners’ 3-6 record on the road during the stretch in question, they have seen their 10.0 game lead in the AL West drastically shrink. The Houston Astros are on a seven-game winning streak and as of Thursday morning, are now just 4.5 games behind their divisional rivals for top spot.

Turning to the positive, the Mariners were finally able to stop the bleeding on Wednesday in their series finale versus the Rays. After a run of six losses in seven games, the 5-2 win in Tampa Bay resulted more in relief than celebration.

Kirby comes through in style

There was some understandable concern, when the Rays took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third. However, this would prove to be the only run starter George Kirby gave up on the day.

At a time when it was needed most, Kirby stepped up and provided an outing that offers more evidence of his ability to be the staff ace in Seattle. In 6.0 innings he allowed just four hits, no walks and the aforementioned one run.

The 2023 All-Star ended his outing in style. Facing the top of the Rays’ order, he forced three straight outs to end the bottom of the sixth inning.

Kirby explained his approach versus three of the Rays’ best hitters, giving even more insight into just how special a talent he really is. Speaking the media postgame, he said:

“In that situation, I’m just really trying to execute and get us back in the dugout as quick as possible and try to limit the long at-bats, especially with the top of the order. Just go right at them. If they are going to swing first pitch, sure, go right ahead, but I think it’s important to get us back in the dugout for the next inning quickly.”

As for the win, Kirby knew how much it meant. He said:

“It’s just good to end the road trip on a good note. Happy flight.”

Raleigh and Crawford with the key hits for the Mariners

Of course no matter how excellent the pitching is, it won’t mean a thing if the lineup can’t score – a problem which the Mariners have faced time and time again this season. In this respect, they were still trailing 1-0 until the top of the sixth and down two outs.

Fortunately for the Mariners, one of their best and most clutch bats was at the plate, in Cal Raleigh. He proceeded to blast a three-run bomb — his team-leading 14th homer of the year — to give the visitors a lead they would not relinquish.

Raleigh was asked postgame about the hit. Speaking to the media, he said:

“It’s tough to square those (relievers) up. They may not strike out a lot of guys, (but) they get a ton of weak contact off the barrel off the end or jam shots. So I was just trying to sit there in the middle of the plate. Seeing it hit the walkway was pretty cool.”

When J.P. Crawford added a two-RBI single of his own an inning later, the Mariners seemed in the clear at 5-1. However, there was still one more piece of adversity to contend with.

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Thornton saves the day

Andrés Muñoz came in for the bottom of the ninth, looking to close the deal. Instead, he loaded the bases with no outs, courtesy of two walks and accidentally hitting a batter.

As a result, Mariners manager Scott Servais was forced to turn to Trent Thornton. And while Thornton allowed one run — which was ‘credited’ to Muñoz — he got the three necessary outs and recorded the first save of his Major League career.

Seravis discussed Muñoz and Thornton after the game. He said:

“Muny didn’t feel good today. Just the whole body stuff, and that happens once in a while. You could tell right away he wasn’t on top of his game. A ton of credit to Thorny.”

As for the game in general, Servais was happy with the effort from his players. He said:

“Heck of an effort by our team. … we needed to find a way to show up today and really compete. And we did.”

In respect of the road trip as a whole, Servais made no excuses but did look for the silver lining. He said:

“We had a bad trip. It happens to the best teams in the league, and I do think we’re one of the best teams in the league.”

The Mariners will get to put this claim to the test, as they return home to face a Minnesota Twins ball club currently in a wild card spot. The three-game series begins on Friday night at T-Mobile Park, with them sending Logan Gilbert to the mound, who has arguably been their best starter so far this season.

Do you see the Mariners being able to improve on the road in the second half of the season? Or has losing series against below par home teams in the Marlins and Rays given you (more) cause for concern? Let us know in the comments section below.