Sometimes the lopsided losses are easier to get over.
The visiting Seattle Mariners certainly hope that’s the case Thursday afternoon when they wrap up a three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians.
The Mariners had a four-game winning streak snapped with an 8-0 defeat against the Guardians on Wednesday.
“We’ve got to forget about (the loss),” said Seattle manager Scott Servais, who was ejected midway through the fifth inning along with shortstop J.P. Crawford for arguing balls and strikes with plate umpire Doug Eddings. “We’re going to show up (Thursday) with a chance to win a series against a good team here, and we’re certainly capable of doing that.”
Josh Naylor homered twice for Cleveland to surpass Jose Ramirez for the team lead with 19, Steven Kwan also went deep, and Tanner Bibee and three relievers combined on a three-hitter.
The American League Central-leading Guardians snapped a three-game skid while sending the AL West-leading Mariners to just their second loss in 10 games.
“This is super fun,” Bibee said. “The culture of us wanting to win, I think with our work ethic, is just meshing into something really special.”
Kwan went 2-for-3 to raise his batting average to .397 and extend his on-base streak to 24 games and stretch his hitting streak to 13 games. He’s 16 plate appearances shy of qualifying for the league leadership.
His homer ricocheted high off the foul pole in right field.
“Kwanny doesn’t try to hit for power, but when it’s in his damage zone, he’s getting the barrel to it,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “Showing power is making him a complete hitter.”
Bibee struck out a career-high 12 in six innings, bettering the 11 he had last week in Cincinnati.
“I’m not making excuses; I mean, (Bibee) had his best stuff out there … he pitched very well,” Crawford said. “But when at-bats (are) taken out of your hands … it makes it hard. It’s very frustrating.”
Added Servais: “You could feel the (unhappiness) building in the dugout because those are balls. But you have to give Bibee credit. He’s got a really good fastball, his breaking ball is legit and he commands it. He’s really good.”
Neither of the first two games of the series was especially close. The Mariners built a six-run lead through 5 1/2 innings on Tuesday en route to an 8-5 victory.
The Mariners are scheduled to send right-hander Luis Castillo (6-7, 3.32 ERA) to the mound on Thursday against Guardians lefty Logan Allen (7-3, 5.30).
Allen allowed one run on three hits over five innings on Friday in a 3-1 victory at Toronto.
In his only previous appearance against the Mariners, Allen pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing four hits, three walks and six strikeouts in an 8-0 victory April 3 in Seattle.
Castillo is coming off a 3-2 win on Friday against the visiting Texas Rangers in which he limited the defending World Series champions to two runs on four hits over six innings, with one walk and seven strikeouts.
Castillo hasn’t fared well in his career against Cleveland, going 1-4 with a 4.50 ERA in eight starts. On April 2 in Seattle, he gave up four runs on a season-high 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings during a 5-2 defeat against the Guardians.
–Field Level Media