Mariners offense falls flat in 3-2 extra innings loss to the Tigers

In a game the Mariners arguably couldn’t afford to lose they did just that and must now avoid heading to Detroit in a 2-0 series hole.

It was meant to be different this year for the Seattle Mariners and it may well still prove to be so. However, for one game at least, it was more of the same – more stress, more anxiety, more frustration and ultimately more heartbreak.

In a game the Mariners couldn’t afford to lose, they did just that as the Detroit Tigers outlasted them over 11 innings to come away with a precious 3-2 road win. Now the M’s have to face AL Cy Young favorite Tarik Skubal on Sunday, with the very real prospect of falling 0-2 behind in this best-of-five AL Division Series.

The Mariners were criticized in some corners ahead of time for giving George Kirby the Game 1 start, but the calculated gamble made sense on a lot of levels. It also seemed to be paying off early on, with him pitching four scoreless innings to begin Saturday evening and the home side leading 1-0.

Kerry Carpenter gets to George Kirby yet again

However, such a tenuous advantage was always going to be tough to hold onto and the Tigers finally got to Kirby in the top of the fifth. And it came courtesy of someone he’s often had problems with in Kerry Carpenter, who had four career home runs versus him prior to Saturday.

Kirby had gotten the first two outs of the fifth inning, but was also contending with Parker Meadows on second base as Carpenter came to the plate. The Tigers’ outfielder subsequently got his only hit of the game as he crushed a fastball over the right field wall for a two-run homer which gave the visitors their first lead, at 2-1.

Kirby was asked about the key moment postgame by the media. As per Daniel Kramer of MLB.com, he said:

“The heaters up were working all day. And he finally got to one. So, just tip your cap. I executed the way I wanted to. I’m not going to go back and forth in my head, if that’s the right pitch or not. I threw it. I was convicted in it, and he hit a homer.”

It was easy to criticize the decision to keep Kirby in the game with the benefit of hindsight, but he hadn’t exactly been performing poorly and it made sense to see if he could at least finish the inning. It also wasn’t a poor pitch by the righty – rather it was a case of his old foe catching it just right, with a hit that changed the momentum of the game.

Ah yes, that old chestnut of momentum, something which you can contend the Mariners saw compromised by playing a mostly meaningless final three-game series of the regular series versus the Los Angeles Dodgers. Combined with having five days off before playing their first playoff game, it sure seemed like the M’s were out of sync.

Offense limited to Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez

However, plenty of people in the know have often said that momentum is not a real thing, that it cannot be carried over from one game to the next. Irrespective of if you believe this or not though, the lineup was certainly rusty on the night, save for Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez.

The Mariners only managed six hits over 11 innings and they all came courtesy of their superstar duo with three each. Raleigh had a trio of singles, but it was his teammate who did the real damage, as Rodríguez gave the M’s their aforementioned 1-0 lead with a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth and then tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth with a RBI single.

That would be it for the Mariners offense though, as they only got on base two other times all night with a couple of walks and wasted a tremendous overall outing by a bullpen asked to put in extra duty. Caleb Ferguson, Eduard Bazardo, Gave Speier, Matt Brash and Andrés Muñoz combined to go 5.0 innings and allow no hits or runs.

As a result of this along with the M’s offensive ineptitude, the game entered the 11th inning tied at 2-2. Then it was the turn of the mercurial Carlos Vargas, who allowed a RBI single by Zach McKinstry which gave the Tigers the lead again, set up by walking Spencer Torkelson and then advancing him to second with a wild pitch.

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Vargas was asked afterwards if it was a lack of execution or command, which led to the leadoff walk and wild pitch. Speaking through an interpreter, he said:

“Nothing really. I was just trying to be aggressive and attack the strike zone, but it just wasn’t enough.”

In many ways it was a case of just two pitches on the night which would usually not cause any damage, but on this occasion resulted in all the runs the Tigers would need . Discussing the winning hit postgame, Wilson said:

“Vargy gets the ball on the ground, and that’s what he does best, righty or lefty. And he got the ball on the ground, but McKinstry was able to find a hole for it and get it through.”

The Mariners still had one final opportunity to make some noise and in theory the trio of Randy Arozarena – who got one of their walks on the night – Raleigh and Rodríguez should have been cause for optimism. However, only the latter was able to get on base via his third hit of the game, and Josh Naylor subsequently grounded out to first base to end any hope.

It was a crushing outcome for a team touted by many as the favorites to emerge from the American League with their first pennant in franchise history. Instead the Mariners now face a tall task to recover from this early setback, and not just because Skubal is pitching for the Tigers on Sunday evening.

Ultimate test of Mariners mental fortitude

In the history of postseason baseball, teams which lose Game 1 in a best-of-five series only advance to the next round 27.6 percent of the time, so effectively one-in-four. As for the current 2-2-1 format it’s slightly worse, with the losers of Game 1 only progressing 26.1 percent of the time.

One of the main things which is often discussed about this Mariners team is how close-knit they are and how impressive their mental fortitude is. This is a roster which never knows when it’s beat, time and time again coming back from seemingly lost causes for improbable wins, as Rodríguez said:

“We’ve just got each other’s backs and everybody’s tough and stays tight. I feel like that’s something that’s really huge for us and like I said tomorrow’s a new game and we’re going to be ready for that.”

Now the narrative will be put to the ultimate test for a team which has the promise of so much, genuinely capable of going all the way and becoming king of the hill. We’re about to find out if the Mariners are as good as advertized, or if it will be a case of more of the same for a franchise used to causing heartbreak for themselves and their fanbase.

If it helps the Mariners fanbase in any way, Rodríguez sounded confident in the team’s ability as he explained what the gameplan will be for Game 2 on Sunday. He said:

“Come and attack and be ready to compete. I feel like that’s how we bounce back from this and that’s how we’ve done it in the past. We’re going to be in good shape tomorrow.”

Photos court​‌esy of Tim Rodgers Photography

What was your biggest takeaway from the 3-2 loss in Game 1 by the Mariners? Further, what’s your prediction for Game 2 on Sunday, and why? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.