Athletics vs. Mariners – Game Recap – May 25, 2022 – ESPN

SEATTLE — — Lower than two months into the season, the Seattle Mariners are rapidly trending towards irrelevance in a season that began with expectations of ending the longest playoff drought within the main leagues.

Seth Brown and Elvis Andrus each homered off reigning AL Cy Younger Award winner Robbie Ray and the Oakland Athletics beat Seattle 4-2 on Wednesday, dropping the Mariners into final place within the AL West.

Oakland took two of three within the sequence and leapfrogged the Mariners within the division standings. Whereas it’s nonetheless solely 45 video games into the season, Seattle (18-27) has misplaced eight of 10 and 20 of the previous 27 video games.

“We’re not enjoying good baseball. We all know that,” Seattle supervisor Scott Servais stated. “We now have to make some changes right here and it must occur fast.”

Ray tied his season excessive with 10 strikeouts, however allowed a house run for the fifth straight begin. Brown was the primary to get to Ray with a solo shot within the fourth inning. Brown entered the day with one hit all season in opposition to left-handed pitchers, however doubled off Ray in his first at-bat and adopted the subsequent time up along with his third house run.

“Seth and I talked about being aggressive in opposition to Robbie,” Oakland supervisor Mark Kotsay stated. “I felt Robbie was going to problem him with fastballs and Seth put two good swings on two heaters.”

Andrus added a two-run homer within the sixth, his first this season. Andrus hit a towering fly ball that off the bat seemed to be an ordinary fly out however didn’t cease carrying till left-fielder Jesse Winker ran out of room on the wall.

Ray was aggravated that what seemed to be an out left the yard.

“That’s a pop up. That’s all I can say. I imply, it’s simply thoughts boggling,” Ray stated. “I can perceive beating a man and him getting successful, however beat a man and he takes you out of the yard is simply tremendous irritating.”

Luis Barrera added a two-out RBI single within the ninth inning.

Ray (4-5) pitched out of bother with key strikeouts within the second and fifth innings with runners at third base. He’s struck out not less than eight in 4 straight begins, however is the primary Seattle pitcher this season with 10 house runs allowed.

“He bought large outs. He stored us proper there and that’s all you may ask when you’re beginning pitcher,” Servais stated. “However offensively we simply did not get something going as we speak.”

Oakland’s Paul Blackburn stored up his robust begin to the season regardless of management points. Blackburn (5-0) allowed one hit over 5 1/3 innings earlier than giving approach to the Oakland bullpen. Blackburn’s day was lower quick resulting from walks, giving up a career-high 5, however lowered his ERA to 1.70.

Dany Jiménez was the final of 4 relievers pitching the ninth to stay good in 10 save probabilities.

“5 walks is clearly unacceptable, however on the flip facet of that, one hit,” Blackburn stated. “My stuff was was enjoying nicely as we speak. Although I walked 5 guys was capable of nonetheless create mushy contact and maintain them from advancing runners, protecting them from scoring.”

J.P. Crawford had Seattle’s solely hit off Blackburn with a single within the second inning. Luis Torrens had a two-out RBI single within the seventh inning that scored Dylan Moore, and Ty France singled and scored on Zach Jackson’s wild pitch with two outs within the eighth.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Athletics: OF Ramón Laureano was set to make his return after getting hit on the hand final weekend in opposition to the Angles, however was a late scratch. Laureano was within the authentic beginning lineup in proper area however Oakland made a late swap and Barrera began in his place.

Kotsay stated Laureano did not really feel prepared after hitting within the cage pregame and determined he’d solely be utilized in a pinch-hit function if wanted late within the sport.

UP NEXT

Athletics: RHP Frankie Montas (2-4, 3.55) will begin the opener of a four-game sequence in Texas. Montas left his final begin after 1 2/3 innings after getting hit on the hand by a line drive. Montas has misplaced three straight choices.

Mariners: After a break day, Seattle opens a three-game sequence with Houston on Friday. RHP Chris Flexen (1-6, 4.98) will begin the opener. After pitching nicely however getting little run assist to open the season, Flexen has struggled permitting 14 earned runs in his previous three begins.

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