Mariners drop series finale to Astros as Kendall Graveman returns to mound
The gap between the Mariners, who ended 2019 in the American League West basement, and the Astros, who won division and league championships, isn’t as prominent as it was a season ago.
But, Seattle, in the second season of its rebuilding project and stacked with young players learning how to navigate the majors, still has ground to make up if it wants to contend on a consistent basis with proven clubs like Houston.
The Mariners dropped the first two games of their season-opening series at Minute Maid Park over the weekend — prolonging a long string of losses against a team they went 1-18 against last year — before finally snapping a 15-game losing streak against the Astros Sunday afternoon.
But, the separation that still exists between the two clubs was evident again in the series finale Monday. Houston’s relentless offense was on display again, and Seattle couldn’t quite match it in an 8-5 loss.
“Our young guys, our offense, our lineup is starting to churn a little bit … a lot of guys up and down the lineup (with) quality at-bats,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said on a video call with reporters postgame.
“Unfortunately, not enough tonight. … Showing some really good stuff the first series out in Houston — a club in the World Series last year — with a lot of young players. I thought we did a lot of positive things here, and we’ll continue to build on that.”
The Mariners jumped out to an early lead against Houston starter Josh James in the third, stringing together three runs on a fielder’s choice and two-run homer to left from rookie first baseman Evan White — the first of his career.
“It definitely felt good,” White said. “I’ve seen myself in a lot of two-strike counts this opening series, and to be able to put a good swing on one with two strikes was definitely a confidence booster.”
White collected four hits — including the homer — in the opening series and three RBI. He finished 2-for-5 with two of those RBI on Monday.
“He’s got a lot of upside,” Servais said. “Really fun player to watch and he’ll continue to learn as he goes along. First time, first series in the big leagues, he handled himself really, really well. He’s going to continue to get better.”
Rookie outfielder Kyle Lewis finished 2-for-4 in the series finale with a pair of base hits and a walk, and is 6-for-15 with two homers, four RBI and three walks in his first four games as a starter.
But, the uptick in offensive production as the series wore on wasn’t enough against an Astros lineup that consistently capitalized on mistakes.
Taking the mound for the first time since May 2018 after a long recovery from Tommy John surgery, Mariners starter Kendall Graveman opened the first inning by striking out the side.
He got George Springer — who he struck out three times during his outing — swinging on a 97 mph fastball. Jose Altuve watched one go by at 98, and Graveman then caught Alex Bregman looking at 95.
He gave up a single to Michael Brantley in the second, but swiftly got out of the inning on a double play, and appeared headed for a smooth return.
“The adrenaline was flowing pretty good — not as much as if there would have been a stadium packed full of people — but it’s still flowing,” Graveman said. “You get excited to get back out there and compete.”
But, the Astros, as they have all series, eventually struck with a big inning in the third. A fielding error and a walk gave Houston two base runners with no outs, and a double from Altuve scored one run.
Bregman than unloaded on a first-pitch sinker, crushing a three-run homer to left center to give the Astros a 4-3 lead they never lost.
“The walk to (Dustin) Garneau was a tough one,” Graveman said. “That’s on me. That right there, I’ve got to make him put a ball in play. That’s how that inning kind of got rolling. … I’ve got to attack in that situation a little better.
“I had a big miss, 3-2, it wasn’t even a competitive pitch, and that’s frustrating from a pitcher, especially when you put up four (runs). We’re looking for a shutdown inning. And that’s on me. The loss is on me. I feel responsible for that, because if you go out and put up a zero it’s a totally different ballgame, and that’s something that I’ve got to do, plain and simple.”
Houston scored again in the fourth on a Garneau triple, and in the fifth on a solo homer by Altuve before Graveman was pulled at 88 pitches. Taylor Guilbeau, who was added from the traveling taxi squad ahead of the game, then gave up a double to Brantley that pushed the lead to 8-3.
Graveman did not record an out before he was removed in the fourth. He allowed seven runs (six earned) on six hits, including the two homers, three walks and seven strikeouts. It wasn’t the result he was looking for, but he did feel healthy throughout, he said.
“To be out there was a blessing, privilege to be back out there and, man, I wanted the outcome to be better, as I’m sure many people did, but it’s time to go to work, continue to work, get better,” he said.
“ … I’m thankful that I’m healthy, but now the outcome’s got to be better.”
Mariners Rule 5 Draft pickup Yohan Ramirez pitched two scoreless innings in relief with a pair of strikeouts in the sixth and seventh, while Nick Margevicius also notched a scoreless frame in the eighth.
Seattle scored twice more in the seventh on a Kyle Seager grounder and a White single to cut the lead to 8-5, but it wasn’t enough.
PLUS: Ramirez has emerged early as a weapon in Seattle’s bullpen, tossing three scoreless innings while striking out four in his first two relief appearances against his former team.
“Nice to get him two full innings today,” Servais said. “Next time out there we can start relying on him as one of those long guys, too. He’s got a history of being a starting pitcher in the minor leagues, so he can carry the workload. He’s got to keep the ball in the strike zone because his stuff’s pretty electrical he does.”
MINUS: All but two Mariners recorded at least one hit Monday, but Seattle stranded 10 runners.
STAT PACK: The next run Seager scores will be No. 600 of his career. He will become only the sixth player in Mariners history to score at least 600 runs with the club, joining Edgar Martinez (1,219), Ichiro Suzuki (1,181), Ken Griffey Jr. (1,113), Jay Buhner (790) and Alex Rodriguez (627).
Seager finished 1-for-5 on Monday with a RBI.
QUOTABLE: Servais on young players working counts and producing quality at-bats: “It just shows me they’re getting comfortable. I think what you saw Opening Night and really the first two nights of the season, guys are anxious. They get up there and they get away from their plan and what they’re looking for, and where they’re looking for certain pitches, parts of the plate that they can handle. Once you start seeing them get deeper in counts, taking the closer pitches, they’re just starting to relax, and it’s great to see. That’s what it’s going to take. We talk about controlling the strike zone. That’s what it is — waiting it out to get your pitch, and if you don’t get it, you pass the baton, go to first base and let the next guy take care of business. So, really a lot of positive signs there.”
SHORT HOPS: Mariners reliever Brandon Brennan, last year’s Rule 5 Draft pickup, was placed on the 10-day injured list ahead of Monday’s game with a strained left oblique. He pitched 1 1/3 innings in Saturday’s loss, allowing one run on two hits while walking two. Guilbeau was recalled to replace Brennan, and as part of the traveling taxi squad, he was already in Houston. … Designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach was held out of the lineup for the second consecutive day Monday as he tries to regroup from a slow start offensively in summer camp and the regular season. Servais said Vogelbach has worked with Seattle’s hitting coaches to get back on track. “Just giving him a couple days to kind of get it together, and hopefully he feels better at the plate and can be more productive,” Servais said.
ON DECK: The Mariners are headed to Anaheim to open a three-game series against the Angels at 4:10 p.m. Tuesday. Rookie left-hander Justus Sheffield is scheduled to make his first start of the season for Seattle. He will oppose Angels lefty Patrick Sandoval.
This story was originally published July 27, 2020 at 7:18 PM.
