Orioles blank feeble M’s 4-0

SEATTLE — If the Mariners sought to make Kendrys Morales feel needed upon his return, then mission accomplished. Thursday’s weak 4-0 rollover loss to Baltimore was nothing if not an ongoing cry for offensive help.

They got five hits, all singles, in eight innings against Orioles lefty Wei-Yin Chen. They failed to get a runner past first after the first inning. They also surrendered their lead in the American League wild-card race.

All that was missing was a fly-over plane dragging a banner:

Save us, Kendrys!

“(Chen) was good,” first baseman Corey Hart said. “I don’t if we made him look better than he was. He’s 11-3. So he’s good, but we’re kind of in a funk. Some guys are good, and other guys we make them look good.

“We’ve got to figure it out fast.”

The Orioles, who lead the AL East by three games, took command with a four-run third inning against Mariners starter Hisashi Iwakuma.

Ryan Flaherty and Caleb Joseph led off with singles, which put runners at first and second, before Nick Markakis grounded an RBI single through first baseman Corey Hart for a 1-0 lead.

Delmon Young followed by crushing a first-pitch slider for a three-run homer over the left-field wall.

And it was 4-0.

The significance there is the Mariners average just 3.92 runs a game, which ranks ahead of only Houston among the 15 American League clubs.

That helps explain why they made the trade earlier in the day to reacquire Morales and also why they might want to keep shopping.

“Listen, we’re not swinging well right now,” manager Lloyd McClendon said. “We’ll just have to keep grinding it out. Tonight was not a pretty night. When you don’t hit, you don’t look good. You look flat.”

Iwakuma (8-5) gave up four runs and five hits in the third. So it didn’t matter that, otherwise, he was dominant: no runs and just two hits in his other six innings.

“I didn’t start off too well today,” Iwakuma said. “I was flying open. I was trying to make my adjustment on the mound. I was able to make my adjustment in the end, but it was too late.

“(Young) got to that pitch up in the zone. It was slider, and it hurt me.”

Chen (11-3) departed after the eighth inning. Darren O’Day completed the shutout with a one-two-three ninth. It was all brisk and surgically precise.

So now what?

There is no shortage of stats, traditional and sabermetric, to explain the Mariners’ recent malaise. Most of them point to an attack that has scored fewer than four runs in 14 of its last 17 games.

The only stats, ultimately, that matter are these: The Mariners have lost three straight, five of seven since returning from the All-Star break and nine of their last 13.

They have, in the process, dropped one-half game behind New York and Toronto in the race for the AL’s final wild-card slot.

Highlights?

Chris Taylor marked his major-league debut with a single, one of the Mariners’ five hits, and a clean game at shortstop. And…Felix Hernandez starts Friday. Also, Morales should be in the lineup.

The Mariners’ only scoring chance came in the first after James Jones led off with a walk, stole second and went to third on Stefen Romero’s grounder to first. He tried to score on Robinson Cano’s topper to the pitcher.

Chen flipped the ball from his glove to Joseph, and umpire Jim Reynolds signaled out. The Mariners asked for (and got) a review, believing Joseph blocked the plate in violation of the new rules, but the call stood.

“I’m a little puzzled with that,” McClendon said. “He didn’t have the ball. His foot was in front of the plate. He caught the ball, and he blocked it. To me, that’s blocking the plate. I don’t know how else you can describe it.”

Everything that followed? Lots of way to describe that.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Dennis Williams, head coach and GM of the Everett Silvertips, shakes hands with an assistant coach at the end of a season opening victory over the Vancouver Giants on Saturday, Sep. 24, 2022, at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Coach, GM Williams leaving Silvertips for Bowling Green State

After seven successful season leading Everett, Dennis Williams is heading back to his alma mater. He’ll stay with the Tips through the WHL playoffs.

Everett’s Alana Washington poses for a photo at Everett High School on March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 Girls Basketball Player of the Year: Alana Washington

The Everett senior upped her game in the postseason to help the Seagulls overcome injuries and claim their first state trophy in 41 years.

Left to right, Arlington’s Samara Morrow, Kamiak’s Bella Hasan, Everett’s Alana Washington, Lake Steven’s Nisa Ellis, Lynnwood’s Aniya Hooker, and Meadowdale’s Gia Powell, pose for a photo at Everett High School on March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 All-Area girls basketball teams

A look at the top prep girls basketball players in the area from the 2023-24 season.

Silvertips players celebrate during a game between the Everett Silvertips and Tri-City Americans at the Angel of the Winds Arena on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. The Silvertips won, 5-3. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Silvertips land No. 1 pick, chance to draft generational talent

Landon DuPont is the consensus top pick in next WHL prospects draft. Everett chief operating officer Zoran Rajcic said the team intends to select him.

Mountlake Terrace’s Jaxon Dubiel talks with head coach Nalin Sood during the 3A boys state basketball game against Todd Beamer on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024 in Tacoma, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘It was just time’: Mountlake Terrace basketball coach Sood steps down

Nalin Sood guided his alma mater to 381 wins and 15 state berths in 24 seasons as head coach. He spent over four decades with the program.

Stanwood High School student athletes during their signing day ceremony. (Courtesy of Stanwood High School)
Local class of 2024 athletes who have signed to play in college

A running list of 2024 high school athletes who are set to compete at the next level.

X
Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26

Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Silvertips’ Kaden Hammell (47) enters the rink during a game between the Everett Silvertips and the Tri-City Americans at the Angel of the Winds Arena on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Patterson: Overachieving Silvertips had season worth celebrating

In a season when some thought the team’s playoff streak could end, Everett put together one of its greatest campaigns.

Washington State athletic director Pat Chun, center, watches players on the first day of NCAA college football practice, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Washington hires AD Chun away from rival Washington State

UW quickly targeted its in-state rival’s athletic director after Troy Dannen’s sudden departure.

Seattle Mariners' Mitch Haniger hits a single against the San Diego Padres during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game Monday, March 11, 2024, in Peoria, Ariz. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Why the Mariners could win the AL West, and what could hold them back

Starting pitching, a renovated offense and regression in the AL West are in Seattle’s favor, but injury issues, bullpen concerns and the Houston Astros could be a problem.

X
Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for March 18-24

The Athlete of the Week nominees for March 18-24. Voting closes at… Continue reading

X
Prep roundup for Wednesday, March 27

Prep roundup for Wednesday, March 27: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.