Mariners end season with 3-2 victory over A’s

SEATTLE — And so it ends with a bang.

The Seattle Mariners pulled down the curtain on a disappointing season Sunday in dramatic style with a 3-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics when Seth Smith hit a two-out homer in eighth inning.

“You wish the scenario was a little different for the last game of the season,” Smith said. “But you’re trying to win. And anytime you can win, especially, the last day of the season, it’s nice.”

His words reflected wistful postgame nature evident throughout the Mariners’ clubhouse as players and staff packed for the off-season amid good-bye embraces instead of preparing for postseason.

“You’re not going to see anybody until next year,” said Robinson Cano, who closed the year with a 16-game hitting streak. “It’s just really sad. It doesn’t matter what I did this season. For me, it’s a sad season.”

Smith broke a 2-2 tie by driving a full-count fastball from reliever Ryan Dull (1-2) to the deepest part of the park in center field. It had just enough carry to clear the wall and a leaping effort by Sam Fuld.

“I knew it had a chance once it gets up there (in the air),” Smith said. “Then I just kind of wait like you guys and see what happens. I didn’t know if it was (out) or not. I knew it had a chance, though.”

Tom Wilhelmsen then did what he couldn’t do Saturday night by closing out a one-run victory with a scoreless ninth for his 13th save. Logan Kensing (2-1) got the victory.

“It’s your job to get those three outs,” Wilhelmsen said, “and it’s frustrating when you don’t do it. You also have to turn the page and get over it and know it’s going to happen. Just pretend that it never did.”

This time, Wilhelmsen struck out the side on 14 pitches.

When Coco Crisp looked at a third strike, the Mariners won for just the second time in their final 11 games while closing out a 76-86 season that began with hopes of returning to postseason for the first time since 2001.

“This journey this year was disappointing,” manager Lloyd McClendon said. “No question about it. Like I told my players, we’ll be better because of this. You learn from your past.

“Sometimes, when you’re on the verge of winning, most clubs take a step back. It’s unfortunate. But I think this club is in a position to win going forward.”

Ironically, perhaps, it was something of a pyrrhic victory.

By winning, the Mariners failed to finish with one of the 10 worst records, which means their first-round pick in next year’s draft won’t be protected if they sign a free agent who gets a qualifying offer from his former club.

The Mariners and White Sox tied for the 10th-worst record, but the tiebreaker favors Chicago. The 10 teams with the worst records lose their second pick if they sign a free agent who gets a qualifying offer.

Before Smith’s game-winner, he scored the tying run after drawing a one-out walk in the sixth inning from Oakland starter Chris Bassitt.

A single by Logan Morrison moved Smith to third before he scored on Jesus Sucre’s soft grounder to second base.

Mariners swingman Vidal Nuno, pressed into another start, began the game by yielding two singles but escaped unharmed by getting Brett Lawrie to ground into a double play and striking out Danny Valencia.

But Oakland broke through in the third inning after Craig Gentry led off with a triple past third into the left-field corner. Gentry scored on Bryan Anderson’s sacrifice fly to deep right.

The lead jumped to 2-0 later in the inning when Mark Canha sent a 421-foot drive to center for a two-out homer.

This was it, though. Nuno allowed nothing more in his sixth innings and handed a tie game to reliever Mayckol Guaipe to start the seventh.

Guaipe faced three batters. He hit one, walked another and threw two strikes in 10 pitches before the Mariners replaced him with Kensing, who ended the inning with a double-play grounder.

From there, the game funneled to Smith’s homer and Wilhelmsen’s three-strikeout flourish.

“You’d rather it turned out differently,” Smith said. “Rather than packing up right now, you’d rather be getting ready for the playoffs. We just couldn’t string anything together.

“It wasn’t that we were bad by any means. We just couldn’t get on a hot streak. It seemed like we would win a couple, lose a couple. Win one, lose one. That was the script for most of the season.

“You look around. You don’t have to be but 10 or 15 games over .500 (to be in the postseason picture). That’s how you do that; you run off five or six in a row a couple of times a season. That’s how you make the playoffs.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Arlington’s Leyton Martin (2) poses for a photo at Arlington High School on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 Boys Basketball Player of the Year: Leyton Martin

Arlington’s do-it-all junior point guard led the Eagles to a district title and second straight Hardwood Classic.

X
Prep roundup for Thursday, March 28

Prep roundup for Thursday, March 28: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Left to right, Mountlake Terrace’s Zaveon Jones, Glacier Peak’s Jo Lee, Everett’s Isaiah White, Arlington’s Leyton Martin, Jackson’s Ryan McFerran, and Mountlake Terrace’s Jaxon Dubiel pose for a photo at Arlington High School on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
The Herald’s 2023-24 All-Area boys basketball teams

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

Silvertips’ Andrew Petruk (26) fights for the puck 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)
Breaking down the Silvertips’ 1st-round playoff series vs. the Giants

Everett is searching for a revenge after a shocking playoff exit against Vancouver two years ago.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

University of Washington's new men's basketball coach Danny Sprinkle meets the news media, Wednesday, March 27, 2024 in Seattle. (Ken Lambert/The Seattle Times via AP)
Taking over at Washington personal for men’s basketball coach Sprinkle

Danny Sprinkle spoke about his connection to the school during his introductory press conference Wednesday.

X
Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26

Prep roundup for Tuesday, March 26: (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.