The Mariners’ piggyback experiment was rolled out Tuesday night in game two of their three-game series with the Chicago White Sox. Bryce Miller was the starter, with Luis Castillo ready and primed to enter when needed. Mariners Manager Dan Wilson pivoted to the piggyback experiment after Miller made his first start in Houston, having started the season on the injured list due to a left oblique strain.
In his first start of the season against the Astros on May 13th, Miller pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing 2 runs on 81 pitches. Castillo pitched the next day and pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs, four hits, and three walks. Wilson decided to piggyback the two starters for the upcoming home stand against the White Sox.
“I think they were definitely in a good spot with it and understand it,” Wilson said. “And I think these guys, as we’ve talked about, these guys in this clubhouse, all of them want to do what’s best for the team. And these guys have really taken to that, and they’re ready to go.”
PLAN ALMOST WORKS TO PERFECTION
The plan worked to perfection early Tuesday night when Miller brought out his A game, pitching 5 2/3 shutout innings and allowing just one hit. Jose Ferrer relieved Miller and completed his mission when he struck out White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami to end the sixth inning.
A NEW ROLE
Castillo entered the game and pitched two scoreless innings, which preserved the Mariners’ one lead from the 1st inning. The slim lead dissipated when Castillo walked Murakami to open the inning, then hit the next batter, Miguel Vargas. After botching an earlier pitching change in which he tried to go back to the mound after pitching coach Pete Woodworth’s visit, Wilson yanked Castillo for closer Adres Munoz. The change was doomed from the start. Munoz was in uncharted waters with the two runners on base. The Mariner closer gave up two runs, and the White Sox evened the series with the 2-1 victory.
“It is a tough spot, because we know how good we are and how good we should be,” Mariners starter Bryce Miller said after a stellar outing in which he allowed only one hit over 5 2/3 shutout innings. “It feels like we’ve given games away multiple times.”
BIG PICTURE
It is easy to blame Wilson for the pitching mistakes of taking out Miller too early and leaving Castillo too long, and Munoz’s warm-up time. The big picture is that the Mariners are not hitting up to standard. Having the one run put on a strain on Miller, Castillo Ferrer and more importantly Munoz. The Mariners’ inability to hit on a consistent basis is wasting stellar pitching performances
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