7/15/23
Tigers 6, Mariners 0
(Seattle, WA) Offense is absolutely essential to winning baseball games. It doesn’t matter how good a team’s rotation is, if they can’t score then they can’t win. That has been the story for the 2023 Seattle Mariners as the pitching staff has worn down from carrying the load this season and the offense continues to struggle mightily. After ending the first half on such a high note, the second half has been the complete opposite as Seattle was shutout by the Detroit Tigers in game number two of the three-game series on Saturday, 6-0.
A familiar scene developed in T-Mobile Park in the top of the 2nd. A new Mariner Killer began developing in this series as Kerry Carpenter took another Seattle All-Star deep to begin the inning. Carpenter drove a sinker at the very bottom of the zone the other way and over the left field wall for a solo home run and his second home run of the series. Just like that, Detroit had taken a 1-0 lead.
Detroit clearly had a game plan to go the other way against George Kirby. Lefties especially lived on the left side of the field against the young star. After recording two quick outs in the top of the 3rd, Kirby ran into trouble against the top of the Tiger order. Zach McKinstry shot a double the other way into left center for his 11th double of the season. Riley Greene then followed with a two out RBI single the other way into left field. More two out damage had been done by Detroit as they extended their lead to 2-0.
They really broke it open in the top of the 5th while the M’s were still looking for their first hit of the game. With Eric Haase on second after his eighth double and two outs, the Tigers ran away with this one. Riley Greene drew a walk and Spencer Torkelson showed why he is such a bright prospect. Torkelson broke his bat but still muscled the ball into center field for a base hit and an RBI as the lead grew to 3-0. That brought up that bad man and he did more bad things. Kerry Carpenter would pull the ball this time but with the same result as he launched his second home run of the game and 11th of the season into right center. The three-run bomb turned this game ugly as Detroit blew it open at 6-0.
Seattle would get their first hit with a Jarred Kelenic single but there weren’t many more after that. A Kolten Wong double to leadoff the bottom of the 8th gave the Mariners their best chance to score but as you can see by the picture in this story, it was not meant to be. Seattle rolled over in this one as they dropped the series, losing game two 6-0.
After winning seven of nine to end the first half, the Seattle Mariners (45-46) will now have to win on Sunday to avoid being swept in their first series of the second half. Bryce Miller (5-3, 3.97 ERA) will make his return from the IL to get the start in the finale. Miller left his start two weeks ago with a blister issue but only missed one turn around the rotation. For the Detroit Tigers (41-50), it will be Reese Olson to try to keep the Mariner lineup down. Olson (1-2, 4.05 ERA) will make his first start since the end of June after being moved to the bullpen for a short time. Seattle will look to get to him early as the rookie has only gone more than five innings once this season. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10pm.
Notable Performances
Tigers
- Kerry Carpenter- 2-4, 2 HRs, 4 RBI, 2 R
- Michael Lorenzen (W, 4-6)- 6.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 7 SO
- Riley Greene- 1-3, RBI, R, BB
Mariners
- Kolten Wong- 1-3, 2B
- J.P. Crawford- 1-3, BB
- George Kirby (L, 8-8)- 5 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO
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