Mariners Fall in Houston, 2-1. McCullers Dominant

The Mariners were edged by Astros 2-1 on the Fourth of July thanks to a dominant effort by Houston Starter Lance McCullers.

Lance McCullers was dominant yesterday against the Mariners‘ red hot offense. He struggled, as he does at times, with his fastball command. However, his curve was devastating and accounted for most of his 10 strikeouts. McCullers final line was 7 IP 5 hits 1 BB and just 1 run, a long RBI single by Dae-Ho Lee.

Wade Miley favored well in the matchup despite having to face a lot of really good right handed batters. Except for the first couple of innings, he was finally able to keep his changeup below the zone for the most part. Miley also did well to command his fastball on both sides of the plate. Miley gave up a run on a Luis Valbuena sac-fly in the 1st, but was able to escape a bases loaded jam. Wade benefited from 2 double plays to help him escape a couple more jams. However, Wade gave up a bomb of a home run by George Springer in the 5th, on a changeup left up in the zone. The home run gave the Astros a 2-1 lead.

The Mariners’ best chance to overcome the lead came in the 7th. McCullers went into the inning having retired 14 batters in a row, but gave up a pair of singles and a walk to lead off the inning. Unfortunately, Dae-Ho Lee tapped back to Lance, who turned a 1-2-3 double play. Adam Lind would fly out to left to end the inning and the big opportunity for the Mariners.

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The M’s will look back at that 7th inning as a missed opportunity, but there was another out at home plate early in the game. Another baserunning error by a Mariner came on a strikeout by Robinson Cano. The pitch was in the dirt, so Jason Castro had to throw to 1st. Leonys Martin thought he could somehow make it home in time to beat the throw; he was wrong.

Bill Krueger mentioned in the postgame show that we should give the Mariners’ a pass on this one due to McCullers’ curveball and the quick turn-around. The M’s were playing a day game after having to fly to Houston late last night. I am not so generous. I felt the baserunning error early, and the 10 strikeouts were indicative of the M’s being too aggressive. They never allowed McCullers’ lack of fastball command to play a part by flailing over and over on his curve. It was a rough way to break the four-game winning streak.

The Mariners’ offense had one more chance in the bottom of the 9th off Astros’ new closer Will Harris. Harris came into the game with a 0.76 ERA, and retired the first two batters before Nelson Cruz came to the plate. Cruz hammered a 1st pitch fastball in the middle of the plate, but Springer made the catch fairly easily at the wall.

Tomorrow’s Probables: Taijuan Walker gets the start for the Mariners against Houston’s ace, Dallas Keuchel. Dallas turned things around in June, but is still having a very disappointing season coming off winning the AL Cy Young Award last season. Walker looked strong in his last start coming off his right arch tendonitis, going 6.1 IP allowing just 1 run on 4 hits.

Today’s probables: Taijuan Walker 4-6, 3.29 ERA vs Dallas Keuchel 5-9, 5.13 ERA

Mentionables: Jose Altuve was named player of the month, batting an amazing .420 in June. The Astros came into today’s game having lost the last nine times on 4th of July.

Transactions Today: The SF Giants activated solid veteran reliever Sergio Romo from the 60 day disabled list. Another reliever, Nationals’ closer Jonathan Papelbon, was activated from the 15 day DL. Tampa Bay OF Desmond Jennings was placed on the 15 day DL with a strained hamstring.

Injuries Today: Cubs’ star Kris Bryant left today’s game with a lower leg contusion, not too serious perhaps. Royals’ starter Yordano Ventura has a sprained right ankle, uncertain whether he will make his next start against the Mariners.

Next: Previewing the Seahawks' 2017 Draft

Today’s Date in Baseball History: Lou Gehrig‘s number 4 was retired by the New York Yankees in 1939. The Yankee dynamic duo reunited – Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth at Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939, shortly after Gehrig’s retirement. Within a decade a similar testimonial would honor Ruth, who died from cancer in 1948