SEATTLE — With a patchwork lineup that looked more like early-March Cactus League than late-August American League West leader due to illness and injury, the Seattle Mariners saw their four-game winning streak snapped and their one-game division lead erased in loss to a team that some baseball experts have referred to as minor league.
Absent their scheduled starting pitcher, George Kirby, and the hottest hitter in baseball, Julio Rodriguez, the Mariners suffered a disappointing 3-1 loss to the Oakland A’s.
Seattle fell to 75-57 and into three-way tie with the Texas Rangers (75-57) and Houston Astros (76-58) for the lead in the AL West.
It was the Oakland’s 39th win of the season as the franchise looks to avoid losing 120 games. Seattle had been 8-0 against the worst team in baseball this season.
Given the discrepancy in the rosters and results, it seemed like the Mariners would always rally even after falling behind 3-0. But they failed to get the big hit. In the ninth inning, pinch hitter Josh Rojas singled with two outs and J.P. Crawford doubled into the left field corner. But A’s closer Trevor May struck out Eugenio Suarez to end the game.
A crowd of 44,280 packed into T-Mobile Park on a cool Tuesday evening with the roof closed to see if the Mariners could continue their run of success, and of course procure a Julio Rodriguez Funko Pop collectible as part of a giveaway promotion.
But they never got to see the actual Rodriguez play. Instead, they saw an offense without him muster two hits in the first eight innings and score its only run on bases-loaded walk. The Mariners left 10 runners on base, going 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
A little before 5 p.m., the Mariners were forced to change their pitching plans when it became clear Kirby would be unable to make his scheduled start due to an unspecified illness.
Seattle made the logical choice and started right-hander Luke Weaver, who had been a starter with the Cincinnati Reds prior to being designated for assignment. As the most stretched out pitcher in the bullpen, Weaver was going to throw at least 70 pitches — good or bad — in the game to cover some of the innings.
About 10 minutes before the 6:40 p.m. first pitch vs. the A’s, the Mariners announced that Rodriguez had been late scratch from the starting lineup due to left foot soreness.
The lineup attrition continued into the game.
A poor pickoff throw from Weaver to first base resulted in ball that bounced up and struck Ty France in his left wrist — an area that has caused problems in the past. The contusion on France’s left wrist would force him out of the game in the third inning.
To quote Faber College freshman Chip Diller in Animal House, “Remain calm, all is well.”
Of course, much like the final chaotic scene in the comedic classic, all was not well in Mariners’ fan land where the years of disappointment and heart break have turned the most optimistic people into fatalists and doomsayers.
When J.P. Crawford slid awkwardly into second base in the third inning and stayed on the ground in obvious discomfort, it did feel like the game, if not the team, was cursed for failure or something worse.
Knowing he couldn’t exit the game and create a greater sense of panic, the always-tough Crawford remained in the game and played through any pain.
Had Crawford left the game, there might have been a fan meltdown destroying social media, which wouldn’t have been the worst thing.
Weaver pitched 3 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on seven hits, including a pair of home runs.
Veteran left-handed hitter Seth Brown hit a solo homer with two outs in the first inning. In the second inning, Weaver allowed a leadoff single to Jordan Diaz and then surrendered a two-run homer to Shea Langeliers that made it 3-0.
The Mariners lone run came in the fourth inning. They loaded the bases against Oakland starter Ken Waldichuk with two outs. Cade Marlowe worked a walk to force in a run, but Jose Caballero popped up a 2-0 pitch to end the inning.
