7 Runs On Our Starter And The Mariners Just Blew Their Chance At The Series

Alright, 12s, let's just get straight to it: the M's dropped the series finale against the Baltimore Orioles last night, falling 7-5. This one stings, big time. We split the four-game set, and frankly, after clawing our way back into it, we absolutely left a potential series win on the table. It was a rollercoaster of a game, but when our pitching gives up seven runs, it's an uphill battle we just couldn't quite conquer.

Early Fireworks and a Baltimore Blast

The Mariners actually started this game hot! A Mariners batter launched his fifth homer of the season on just the third pitch of the game, an 0-2 delivery, giving us an instant 1-0 lead. It felt like we were ready to take control. But then the third inning hit, and man, did it hit hard. Colton Cowser tied it up for Baltimore with his seventh homer of the season, and that was just the beginning of a brutal six-run inning for the O's. Pete Alonso smashed a two-run shot, and Adley Rutschman, playing in his first game of the series after a hamstring issue, smacked a two-run double. Just like that, our 1-0 lead turned into a 6-1 deficit, and you could feel the air go out of the stadium, even on the road. But you know our guys, they don't quit. The Emerald City spirit was still there in the fourth. A Mariners slugger connected for a two-run blast, and then another M's hitter went deep with a solo homer, going back-to-back and sparking some serious hope. Julio Rodriguez, ever the spark plug, followed that up with a two-out, run-scoring single, cutting the lead to a manageable 6-5. It felt like a real comeback was brewing! Unfortunately, Rutschman had other plans, adding an RBI single in the fifth to push their lead back to 7-5, which ultimately held up as the final score.

Pitching Pains and Missed Opportunities

Our starter just didn't have it last night. He lasted five innings, giving up all seven runs on seven hits, walking one and striking out four. You just can't give up that many runs early and expect to win consistently, especially against a solid team like Baltimore. Their starter, Kyle Bradish, gave up five runs on seven hits in four innings, striking out five and walking three, matching his season low in innings pitched for the second straight start. We had chances, we really did. Tyler Wells got the win for Baltimore with three innings of hitless relief, and Andrew Kittredge locked down his first save of the season. We even put two runners on base with two outs in the eighth, a perfect setup for some late-game heroics. But Baltimore's reliever came in and got a key groundout from a Mariners batter, slamming the door shut on our comeback hopes. It's those little moments, those chances to push one more run across, that separate a series split from a series win. We head home now, needing to regroup and tighten things up. Every game matters, and while a split on the road isn't the worst thing, knowing we could've taken the series makes this one a tough pill to swallow. We've got to find consistency from our starters and capitalize on those late-game opportunities. This team has the fight, now let's see them put it all together and bring that winning swagger back to T-Mobile Park.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.