Mariners shut out by Twins as bats once again go cold

SEATTLE – Mistakes aren’t misfortune, failed execution isn’t a bad break and optimistic references to last season’s success, which should have stopped about a month ago, should probably result in fines at their mention.

For reasons largely passing standard baseball logic, the 2021 Mariners would have found a way to win Wednesday’s game at T-Mobile Park, probably by one run.

But the 2022 version has yet to find that sort of magic, by not creating it.

The seventh inning of Wednesday’s 5-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins offered the juxtaposition.

In the critical seventh inning, the Mariners’ best reliever, Paul Sewald, gave up the go-ahead single with two outs. In the bottom of the inning, Dylan Moore couldn’t execute a sacrifice bunt with runners on first and second and no outs, popping it up to first base. Meanwhile, Luis Torrens and pinch-hitter Abraham Toro couldn’t come up with a hit of any sort when needed to at least tie the game

The M’s wasted Marco Gonzales’ strong start and were shut out for the eighth time this season.