After the thrilling series win over the Braves and the spilt with the Padres, the M’s have been in Anaheim for the past four days. Let’s just say that they have been quite forgetful, and they must persevere going forward in the near future with some of their top players tentatively on the shelf.
The Los Angeles Angels won the first three of four games this past weekend, where the M’s took the finale on get-away day.
Here is a recap of the series loss to the Angels, and all of the injury updates to go along with it.
With Seattle being at its lowest part of the season before the brawl in June, a lot changed with the trajectory of both teams. One thing that stayed the same for the struggling Angels? Luis Rengifo still destroys Mariner pitching. Friday night’s opener marked his first multi-homerun game of his career. He finished the game with four RBIs.
Julio hit his fifth lead off home run of the season. Carlos Santana made it a one-run game with a two-run shot in the fourth. But that is when red-hot third basemen Eugenio Suarez had to leave the game. He fractured his right index finger on a few interesting looking swings. He was place on the ten-day prior to Saturday.
Julio Rodriguez celebrates while rounding the bases after hitting his fifth leadoff home run on Friday night. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Mike Trout hit his 54th career home run against the M’s in the fifth, because why wouldn’t he. The M’s made it interesting with home runs by Ty France and Santana making it a 7-8 game, but that was the final score in the opener, with the Halos coming out on top.
With no Geno, Dylan Moore was brought back up to maybe take his place at third base. Unfortunately for the M’s, he replaced Julio in center field, who was scratched from the lineup pregame with back tightness. This pregame scratch held him out in the final three games of the series.
Another phenomenal pitching matchup in Saturday’s game. 2021 American League MVP Shohei Ohtani up against star-Rookie George Kirby. The box score also indicated that the matchup lived up to the hype.
With no Geno, Julio or Cal Raleigh (thumb soreness – jammed when sliding into first base), the M’s could not get anything going against Ohtani, who went seven scoreless, striking out eight. Ohtani was also the reason for one of LA’s two runs (a RBI double in the first). Kirby was no short of solid in this one either. He gave up two earned over six innings, striking out eight.
Taylor Trammel hit a mammoth, bat-slamming solo home run in the eighth, but that was it for the M’s. they lost their second consecutive game by a run, losing 1-2.
Sunday has arrived, and it is time for Seattle’s now-fifth starter in Marco Gonzales to try and turn things around. Luis Rengifo had an ulterior motive…or motives I should say…again. His second career multi-home run game (second in three games) pushed Anaheim past the M’s for third game in a row. Seattle couldn’t get anything going here, and the final score was 5-1 Angels.
Looking to avoid a four-game sweep, and still without Julio, Cal, and/or Geno, it was up to Logan Gilbert to do his thing. Let me tell you, he did such that. Backed by a Carlos Santana grand salami (two HRs Monday) and Ty France three-run blast, Gilbert struck out a career-high 11 Angels in Monday’s matinee.
Seattle desperately needed this one, and they got it. They took the finale by a score of 9-1.
Ty France sports the "Swelmet" in the dugout after his three-run home run on Monday afternoon. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Looking ahead to the Oakland series beginning tomorrow night, Julio Rodriguez and Cal Raleigh should be back (maybe not the opener Tuesday, but sometime in the three-game series). Eugenio Suarez looks to be out for an extended period, unfortunately.
Luckily for the M’s, their schedule to finish the regular season is encouraging, despite the injury mishaps. After losing three of four to the Angels, here is a look at the updated American League Wild Card standings as of Monday evening:
- Toronto Blue Jays (83-64), +2.0 GB
- Tampa Bay Rays (82-64), +1.5 GB
- Seattle Mariners (80-65), -- GB
- Baltimore Orioles (76-69), 4.0 GB
- Chicago White Sox (76-71), 5.0 GB