Mariners offense can’t support Marco Gonzales’ strong effort, Seattle swept by Milwaukee
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA – Early season struggles remain apparent for the Seattle Mariners as we approach the 20-game mark of this 162-game season, as the team was swept by the Milwaukee Brewers in the sixth contest of a nine-game homestand. Starting pitcher Marco Gonzales was excellent in today’s game but did get pegged for two runs he had left in base before Matt Brash came in to relieve him in a disastrous seventh inning that flipped the script of the game. Once again, the Mariners had the game in their own hands as they had loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth, but in similar fashion to yesterday’s game, Seattle failed to capitalize.
Seattle starting pitcher Marco Gonzales’ day in pictures (Photos by Mathew Bermudez)
“Dad strength” Marco shows out in impressive outing
In his first start since coming off the paternity list, as Marco and his wife Monica welcomed a second daughter into the world, Gonzales was excellent on the mound and gave his team a fighting chance to win the ballgame. Through his six-inning outing, Marco allowed four hits, gave up two runs (both earned and were driven in after he had left the game, by Matt Brash), only walked one while striking out nine. Those nine-strikeouts tie a career high in a game for Gonzales, who last did so on August 12th, 2021 (funny enough, I was there for this game) when he threw a two-hit complete game against the Rangers. With the exception of the two singles he allowed in the seventh to end his outing, Gonzales continued to create weak contact and was effective with his pitching arsenal despite his low velocity.
Mariners centerfielder Julio Rodriguez’s day through pictures, including getting caught stealing and crossing home after his two-run homer (Photos by Mathew Bermudez)
Julio hammers home Jose
A fun note over the past few games has been infielder Jose Caballero getting his call-up to the big leagues, and today he was finally able to record his first major league hit. After getting the start in yesterday’s game but only managing some long flyouts, Caballero got his moment with a double in the third inning. With two outs, it seemed that Caballero’s double had gone to waste, and it was just going to be a fun first hit moment and not play an impact in the final score of the ballgame, but teammate Julio Rodriguez made sure that wasn’t the case. Julio blasted a cutter that was high in the zone, sending into just over the left field wall and into the bullpen for his fourth homer of the season and scoring Caballero.
Seattle infielder Jose Caballero’s day through pictures, including celebrating his first career hit (a double) and watching his popout that ended the game (Photos by Mathew Bermudez)
Still can’t strike with runners in scoring position
As mentioned in the introduction, Seattle had a grand opportunity to close things out with a win and salvage at least one game from this hard series against a good Milwaukee team. The bottom of the ninth started off perfect in a lot of ways for the Mariners, who came into that inning down by three runs. Ty France doubled as right fielder Brian Anderson failed to make the catch, Eugenio Suarez was hit by a pitch (on the opposite arm of where he was hit yesterday), and Teoscar Hernandez singled to load the bases with no outs. Seattle looked for some magic when they had Cal Raleigh pinch hit for AJ Pollock in the designated hitter spot...
But it didn’t work out as Raleigh struck out on three quick pitches. Still, the bases remained loaded for Jarred Kelenic, who singled to drive in France and cut the deficit to two runs. Maybe the Mariners were going to be able to finally complete a late inning surge? Wrong, as Tommy La Stella (pinch hitting for Tom Murphy, so a lateral move) and Jose Caballero both popped out to end the game. There was no redemption for La Stella, who’s been bad to begin the season, and no heroic ending to this contest for Caballero, playing in his third major league game.
Mariners third baseman Eugenio Suarez shows frustration after being hit by a pitch for the second game in a row (Photos by Mathew Bermudez)
Quick notes
Mariners starting pitcher Marco Gonzales recorded 9 strikeouts in today’s game which ties his career-high for strikeouts in a single game.
This is the 6th time Gonzales has had 9 strikeouts in a game, the last time coming on Aug. 12, 2021, against the Texas Rangers.
Marco pitched 6.0 innings and allowed 4 hits, 2 runs, and 2 walks to go with his 9 strikeouts on 90 pitches, 62 strikes.
With his leadoff single Julio Rodríguez is now batting .412 (7x17) with 2 doubles, 1 home run, and 1 RBI in the 1st inning this season…he now has a .423 (44x104) batting average in the 1st inning in his career.
Rodríguez opened the scoring in today’s game after hitting a 2-run home run in the 3rd inning for his second hit of the game…Caballero scored on the play.
Today marked the 7th time Julio has homered in back-to-back games…his last time hitting a home run in consecutive games was Sept. 14-16, 2022.
Today marked Julio’s 9th multi-hit game of the season.
Jose Caballero recorded his first career Major League hit in the 3rd inning when he doubled to left field.
After recording a walk to lead off the 4th inning, Eugenio Suárez has now reached base in 16 consecutive games dating back to April 2…during that stretch Suárez is batting .296 (19x64) with 7 runs, 2 doubles, 2 home runs, 13 RBI, and 5 walks.
Geno reached base safely again after getting hit by a pitch in the 9th inning…this was the second consecutive game he has been hit by a pitch.
Jarred Kelenic got his 9th RBI of the season after he singled in the 9th inning to drive in Ty France.
Kelenic has now reached base safely in 13 of his last 14 games and is batting .333 (16x48) over his last 14 games.
With his double in the 9th inning Ty France has now reached base safely in 18 games and hit safely in 16 of the 19 games he has played this season.
Mariners relievers Matt Brash, Trevor Gott, and Tayler Saucedo combined for 3.0 innings pitched and allowed 5 hits and 3 runs while striking out 3.
Today marked Saucedo’s Mariners debut and his first Major League appearance since April 29, 2022 with Toronto.
Seattle reliever Tayler Saucedo made his MLB return in the game (Photo by Mathew Bermudez)
What’s next?
The Mariners will have a necessary day off in the schedule before they return to action to finish off this nine-game homestand, as they host the St. Louis Cardinals for a three-game slate. Seattle will go from hosting the top team in the NL Central to the fourth team in the division when the Cardinals come to town. St. Louis is an interesting team, with some aging veterans trying to empty the tank this season and some rookies that are looking to kick the MLB door down. That series begins, and the Mariners look to get back on track, on Friday, April 21st, with a first pitch time of 7:10PM PST.