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Seattle Mariners

Mariners Log: Rougned Odor homers in 13th to sink M’s

Seattle Mariners pitcher Evan Marshall (41) is helped to his feet before leaving the field after he suddenly went down with an injury in the 11th inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, May 5, 2017, in Seattle. (Ted S. Warren / Associated Press)
By Dave Nichols daven@spokesman.com(509) 459-5441

SPOILS SOLID SEVEN INNING START BY YOVANI GALLARDO

What happened: Rougned Odor hit a two-run home run in the top of the 13th inning and the Texas Rangers beat the Seattle Mariners 3-1 on Friday at Safeco Field.

The homer came off Emilio Pagan – the M’s eighth pitcher – in his third inning of work. Fellow relievers Jean Machi and Evan Marshall both left the game with injuries. Machi appeared to be shaking out his hand as if it were numb or tingling and Marshall appeared to suffer a right hamstring injury as he delivered a pitch.

The Rangers first run came in the first inning on a ground-rule double to right that Ben Gamel couldn’t handle, then needed to be reviewed to ascertain if it was fair or foul.

Robinson Cano tied it in the fourth with a line-drive solo shot, his sixth of the season.

Starter Yovani Gallardo turned in one of his best starts not only of this season, but of the past few. He gave up one run on a fluky play on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts over six innings.

Rangers starter Yu Darvish went seven innings and allowed just the solo homer. He gave up six hits and four walks with five strikeouts.

Line Outs

  • Delino DeShields led off the game with a single off the leg of Gallardo, moved up on a groundout and with two down, scored on a ground-rule double by Elvis Andrus. The slicing drive eluded Ben Gamel in the corner and the umpires had to go to review to confirm if the ball was fair or foul.
  • In the bottom half, Jean Segura singled, but was then thrown out oversliding second on a steal attempt. That’s happening way too often. The caught stealing, not the hitting.
  • The M’s tied it up in the fourth when Robinson Cano ripped a liner into the right field stands for his sixth homer of the season.
  • Seattle put two one with one out in the fifth. Guillermo Heredia walked, but was rubbed out on a grounder by Carlos Ruiz. Jarrod Dyson walked, but Segura bounced into a 4-6-3 double play to wipe out any rally.
  • Heredia drew another walk to lead off the seventh, then manager Scott Servais ordered Ruiz to waste an out. Ruiz got the sacrifice down with two strikes and Heredia moved up to second, and then went to third on a wild pitch to Dyson. Dyson swung wildly at an inside slider for strike three and Segura flied out to center to end the inning.
  • The M’s wasted a golden opportunity to end it in the 10th. Segura led off with a double, then Servais somewhat incredibly ordered Gamel to sacrifice. He could not, looking at strike three as he was turned to bunt. The Rangers gave Cano a free pass, then Cruz flied out and Seager grounded to end the threat.
  • Jean Machi walked the first batter in the 11th but then got a double play. But after walking Carlos Gomez, he started to flex his hand and fingers and the trainers came out. After a tester pitch, he departed.
  • Evan Marshall took over, but on his second pitch he reached back for his right hamstring on his follow-through and crumpled to the ground. He was helped off the field and Emilio Pagan came on to record a strikeout to end the inning.
  • With one out in the bottom, Heredia singled to center and when Gomez bobbled it he tried to take second. The ump called safe but upon review, Rougned Odor’s tag got Heredia on the thumb just before he hit the bag.
  • Again in the 12th the M’s put two runners on with two down but Cruz flied to center for the third out.
  • The Rangers broke the tie in the 13th, as Odor turned on a center-cut fastball from Perez for a two-run shot well beyond the fence in right.

The Takeaway

The M’s are in trouble. They placed their best starter on the disabled list, sent their starting catcher to the minors for the second year in a row, and lost two more relievers to injuries. All that, and fell four games below .500 again. The ship is taking on water quickly.

Tweet of the Day

Players of the Game

Hero: Yovani Gallardo. The starter turned in, yeah we’ll say it, a terrific performance. Too bad it was all for naught.

Goat: Danny Valencia. One night after being the hero with a mammoth home run, he goes back to, well, being not good. 1 for 6, two Ks, six left on base.

Mariners Notes

The game time of 5:02 is the longest of the year for the Mariners. The previous long was 4:40 on May 2 against the Angels…The Mariners are now 14-16 against the A.L. West this season…The Mariners are 0-3 in extra innings games…Nelson Cruz (2 for 6) extended his hitting streak to 14 consecutive games (since April 19)…Yovani Gallardo pitched at least six innings and gave up one run or less for the second time this season, the 81st such start of his career.

Next Game

Texas Rangers (13-17) vs. Seattle Mariners (13-17) at 6:10 p.m. at Safeco Field. LHP Martin Perez (1-4, 4.26) vs. RHP Chase De Jong (0-2, 11.05).

What others are saying (and writing)

Let’s get to the game first. The M’s had their chances to win in nine, but couldn’t get it done. Then the beleaguered and battered Texas bullpen held them scoreless until Odor’s big hit. … Before the game, James Paxton was put on the disabled list – if you are keeping score at home, that’s 60 percent of the expected starting rotation on the DL – and Mike Zunino, he of the sub-Mendoza Line average (again) was demoted to Tacoma (again). Scott Servais doesn’t think it will be for a long time. … The M’s aren’t sure who will start in Paxton’s spot. … Ariel Miranda has become a go-to guy.