Photo: (Ken Lambert / The Seattle Times)
Well, it was fun while it lasted, a brief stretch that saw the Seattle Mariners break a 15 game losing streak to the Houston Astros and sweep the Angels, returned to reality in quick fashion. Three of the four games this weekend were hard fought but ultimately, the Mariners were reintroduced to the real world and how far away they truly are from competing.
We saw strong efforts in 3 narrow losses but as the wheels came off on Monday night, we saw the talent gap from the M’s and the rest of the league. While last week we saw a hot set of bats averaging 8 hits per game, this week we saw the lumber turn to slumber as offense was quite hard to come by.
7/31 vs Oakland W 5 – 3
Things started off pretty decent with an amazing post-surgery performance by Taijuan Walker. A one-hit 8 strikeout performance was almost destroyed by ineptitude in the bullpen. Newcomer Bryan Shaw had a meltdown in the 8th inning when he allowed 3 runs off of 2 hits. The new rule forcing pitchers to pitch to 3 batters really bit the M’s in the backsides as all anyone could do was to watch this fiasco go down.
Luckily, earlier in the game the 2 Kyles (Lewis and Seager) worked their magic going a combined 3-7 with a walk, and 3 RBIs. JP Crawford showed improvement with a 2-4 night and 2 runs scored. The M’s would barely escape this game but it would go south from there and in a hurry.
Simply Seager. pic.twitter.com/fyNhVOG4s3
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) August 4, 2020
8/1 vs Oakland L 3 – 2
On the bright side, Yusei Kikuchi had a great evening with a 6 inning, 3 hit, and 9 strikeout game. This was a huge improvement from last Sunday when he got clobbered by the Astros for 5 runs. Unfortunately, this effort could not make up for a Mariners offense that could only muster 5 hits and leave 6 men on base. Kyle Seager would muster 2 RBI, but the rest of the offense was pretty much left wanting as they went 1-7 with runners in scoring position against Oakland’s Sean Manaea.
tai explaining how close the starting pitching unit is then pausing mid-interview to wave his cheering section towel for kikuchi after a strikeout was um… perfect pic.twitter.com/iWKWt0lhrv
— Lydia Cruz (@TheLydiaCruz) August 2, 2020
8/2 vs Oakland L 3 – 2
It was a freaky Friday….er, Sunday as the Mariners offense went missing. Oakland pitcher Chris Bassitt went 5 2/3rd striking out 7 Mariners batters. Shed Long got on base 3 times, but as a team the M’s would go 5-32 with just 2 walks.
Starter Kendall Graveman would get rocked for a second week in a row, raising suspicions if his arm is ready for return. Kendal went 96 pitches but only in 4 and 2/3rds innings. With 2 runs allowed his ERA on the season is well above 8.00.
“Kendall coming off surgery, a hundred (pitches) is probably going to be the top,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “Getting him out of the game and getting a left-hander in there for Ramon … was key.”
8/3 vs Oakland L 11 – 1
Sing it with me, “the wheels on the bus fell completely off….completely off…”
Everything seemed completely ok for a while, in fact the M’s had a 1-0 lead up until the 5th and new starter Justus Sheffield had everything under control…..until…
In the 5th Sheffield got the A’s to 2 outs, then all heck broke loose. With four straight runs allowed, manager Scott Servais replaced him. Reliever Bryan Shaw would allow 4 more runs in the inning and by then the M’s were in a hole they could not climb out of. Pitchers Zach Grotz and Nestor Cortes were also ineffective allowing 3 more runs, but realistically it was already all over.
The Mariners offense failed to show up for a 3rd game in a row getting just 1 run off of 4 hits. Kyle Seager would get an RBI double but the M’s as a whole went 1-6 with runners in scoring position and left 8 men on base.
When you spend your birthday money all in one place#RootedInOakland pic.twitter.com/SLqdBD32y7
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) August 4, 2020
SSU player of the series
Veteran Kyle Seager had a great series with 4 for 8 with 5 RBIs, 3 walks, and a double.
AL West Standings
| W | L | Pct | GB | |
| Oakland | 6 | 4 | .600 | 0.0 |
| Houston | 5 | 4 | .556 | 0.5 |
| Texas | 3 | 5 | .375 | 2.0 |
| Seattle | 4 | 7 | .364 | 2.5 |
| LA Angels | 3 | 7 | .300 | 3.0 |
