Bryan Woo’s bid to build momentum was derailed by a trudging start Sunday, as the Seattle right-hander surrendered six runs in six innings in his second straight uneven outing. Woo was pummeled early — four earned runs on five hits in the first inning — and gave up two solo home runs in the sixth that accounted for the rest of the damage, leaving Seattle’s offense with too large a hole to climb out of despite a late burst of power.
The box score reflected a split personality: a starter whose fastball and swing-and-miss stuff have been praised all season, yet who failed to escape the first-inning trouble that set the tone. Woo managed to work through six frames but the early onslaught forced the Mariners into catch-up mode, turning what might have been a routine turn into a game of damage control for the Seattle pitching staff.
Offensively, Seattle answered with authority at times. Julio Rodríguez launched two of the club’s four home runs — blasts the team described as among the most majestic of the young season — and the lineup’s long balls kept the contest interesting into the later innings. Still, the homers were not enough to erase the deficit created by the first-inning rally and the sixth-inning round of solo shots that pushed the opponent’s lead back out of reach.
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The outing represents a worrying pattern for Woo, who entered the start with expectations tied to his electric arsenal. Two consecutive rough starts raise questions about command and sequencing early in games; allowing a flurry of hits in the opening frame often forces starters to expand their pitch counts and lean on their secondary offerings before they’ve found rhythm. Seattle’s coaches and Woo will almost certainly review film to pinpoint whether the problem is location — particularly elevated fastballs or catching too much of the plate — or pitch selection when ahead in the count.
From a team perspective, the performance underscored a familiar MLB truth: timely offense can keep a club within striking distance, but consistent starting pitching is the backbone of sustained success. Seattle’s four-homer night showcased the lineup’s pop and confirmed Rodríguez remains a primary source of run creation, but the pitching staff cannot afford repeated early-game lapses if the Mariners are to convert that flash into wins.
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Looking ahead, the onus is on Woo to adjust. Whether through minor mechanical tweaks, sharper early-game preparation, or better sequencing of his secondary pitches to complement his fastball, the right-hander will be searching for a quick correction to return to the form that made him one of Seattle’s most electrifying young arms. The club will be watching closely; the rotation’s health and performance hinge on getting starts like this back on track.
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