Lose Tough Series to Yankees

 The Seattle Mariners on Sunday lost again to the New York Yankees in front of a large crown at Safeco Field 6-4. The Yankees took the series 3-1 and made the last ten games for the Mariners 6-4. Half of the wins were the sweep against the White Sox in Chicago. The road trip made things look like Mariners were on track however the Yankees had other ideas.

Actually the Mariners were close in the games and could have won at least one of the games if not more or they may have been swept as well. The bullpen as well as the starting pitching was what hurt the Mariners.

Yovani Gallardo started Sunday’s game after pitcher in relief for the Mariners for several weeks. He didn’t do well going five innings giving up three runs on five hits including two home runs. I am not sure what the Mariners can do with Gallardo however he seems to do better in relief. The Mariners actually had a chance to win the game when Gallardo was replaced by rookie lefty James Pazos however like recently he gave up three runs on two hits and two walks in one-thirds of an inning. He was replaced by Tony Zych who finished off the sixth inning giving up one hit and one walk. Emilio Pagan who has well in long relief came in and finished the game going three innings giving up two hits and one walk but did not surrender a run. Pagan has done well giving up only one run in his last seventeen innings. He seems to have taken over the role as long reliever however what will the Mariners do with Gallardo in the meantime.

Another thing what will the Mariners do with James Pazos. After starting off the season well he has done poorly in the month of July. The Mariners have the option of sending him down or work on his mechanics in the same way they did Edwin Diaz and keep him on the major league roster. I believe the season he had for three months he deserves a chance to stay working on the mechanics whether the Mariners will do that or not we may know today or tomorrow.  Zach Curtis who has been pitching relief in double A could come up to replace Pazos. He has been up with the Mariners twice already this season and pitched in three games not giving up an earned run. In double A he has ten saves in thirty games with an era of 2.19. It will be a question whether the Mariners want to stick with two lefties in the bullpen or go another direction. They could bring up a starter from Tacoma and move Gallardo back into the bullpen. Again we may see today or tomorrow.

Guillermo Heredia who played in place of injured Jarrod Dyson drove in two of the four runs with a double along with Ben Gamel who drove in the other two runs. Right now Jean Segura has been struggling at the plate in the series against the Yankees. The Mariners may give him a day off. The Mariners may have a change at the utility role as well. We will know about that today too.

The Mariners now take on the Boston Red Sox starting Monday night with James Paxton on the mound. Eduardo Rodriguez who has pitched well for the Red Sox will for them too; Felix Hernandez should go for the Mariners on Tuesday and the series should end with Andrew Moore Wednesday afternoon. I hope that the Mariners will look to rebound and take two out of three from the Red Sox. Paxton must have a good game tonight to get things rolling. Go M’s.

Updated news this morning the Mariners did option Taylor Motter to Tacoma. This will give him needed playing time and the Mariners are expected to activate Danny Espinosa who supposedly signed with the Mariners on Sunday.