Bryan Woo achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the first pitcher in Seattle Mariners history to start 21 consecutive games, each lasting six or more innings, surpassing Hall of Famer Randy Johnson. Unfortunately, his historic night was overshadowed by a frustrating loss to the Oakland Athletics, as the Mariners struggled offensively against A’s starter Jeffrey Springs, managing just four runs – all through home runs – and falling short once again.
The game started off with promise when Julio Rodríguez honored his mentor, Ichiro Suzuki, by hitting a home run that tied both players at 99 homers in the Mariners’ record books. However, the A’s quickly responded in the first inning, with Brent Rooker hitting a solo home run that just edged out Rodríguez’s blast in distance. The A’s maintained their momentum, securing a go-ahead run, aided by questionable umpiring which saw missed calls that frustrated Woo, who was visibly upset throughout the game.
Despite some promising moments, including a sixth-inning home run from Jorge Polanco that narrowed the A’s lead, the Mariners were unable to capitalize fully on their opportunities. Quick outs and missed chances plagued them, with Mariners hitters not able to take advantage of Springs’s mistakes. Woo, who had been strong in prior outings, faltered against the A’s, allowing critical runs that ultimately sealed the Mariners’ fate in a narrow one-run loss.
However, not all news was bleak for the Mariners. During the ninth inning, it was announced that they were finalizing a deal to bring back Eugenio Suárez from the Diamondbacks. The reasonable trade signifies that the Mariners are actively enhancing their roster before the trade deadline, having already upgraded their bullpen and addressed first base issues. With the AL playoff race still wide open, this proactive approach gives fans hope for a turnaround, even as the team grapples with inconsistencies in offense and pitching.
In these challenging moments, the Mariners have shown they are committed to competing. With the right adjustments and a stronger collective performance from the roster, there is potential for a successful stretch run as they aim for a postseason berth.