Mariners Bullpen Gave Game Away

Yusei Kikuchi got off to a rough start.

It looked like his last outing gave lasting
effects when he was hit in the leg. Though
he struggled early Kikuchi was able to go
seven innings giving up three hits, no runs
three walks and striking out six.

Kikuchi going seven innings allowed the

bullpen some rest. Had he left early it would

have put more trouble on the bullpen. The

Mariners were leading 4-0 when Kikuchi

exited the game. It looked like the Mariners

would win. How much damage could the

bullpen do?

In the 8th inning Kendall Graveman made

his first appearance since being on the injured

list. He was activated off the injured list. 

Graveman went the full inning giving up two

hit including the home run making it 4-1.

Still the game was in the Mariners hands.

Rafael Montero who has been struggling on

the mound for some time. Walked two batters

then had two outs where it looked like the

Mariners would still win. However, former

Mariners Rene Rivera hit a ball that went 

for a double clearing the bases making it

4-4. Actually looked like it could have been

a walk-off grand slam.

The game went into extra innings. The Mariners

were unable to get the runner home from second.

Cleveland had a hit however the runner only went

as far as third. The Mariners intentionally loaded

the bases so they could get a double play including

at home. The ball was hit to reliever Paul Sewald

he threw the ball to catcher Tom Murphy but the

ball wasn't even close so the runner scored making

it a walk-off error I suppose you call it.

The Mariners scored first in the first inning when

Dylan Moore right off a rehab assignment in Tacoma

and the injured list hit a double scoring JP Crawford.

Later Moore hit a home run in the 7th inning. Earlier

Jake Fraley hit a two-run homer in the third inning

for all the Mariner runs. 

Sunday the Mariners will have to see if they don't

get swept. Won't be in easy task as they face last

year's Cy Young winner Shane Bieber. Logan 

Gilbert goes for the Mariners. The Mariners got

off to a decent road trip against the LA Angels

but since they haven't done well against the

Tigers or the Indians. Monday thru Wednesday

they take on the Minnesota Twins with Nelson

Cruz then have a four-game series against the

Tampa Bay Rays. The Mariners and the Rays

often have had trades between each other you

think they could make a trade during this week.

Usually teams trade in July but you never know.

Go M's.