Kyle Seager scored a three-run double in the Sailors’ 8-4 victory Wednesday. (AP)
The Mariners were able to avoid a series sweep against the Chicago White Sox after a sixth inning of seven runs resulted in a Seattle 8-4 victory on Wednesday.
The Mariners use a 7-run inning to avoid the sweep, the White Sox 8-4
Some things that were positive and strong about the sailors in the first series against the Giants were against them against Chicago this series.
So with the first book booth and the Mariners sitting at 3-3, let’s look at some of the key takeaways from this latest three-game series.
Dominated in the area
After the Mariners finished their series win over San Francisco, manager Scott Servais made it very clear what he was happiest with his team during that series. That takeaway was that Seattle dominated the strike zone on the mound and on the plate.
That was not at all the case against a very good White Sox team.
During the set of three games, the Mariners batted 37 times while drawing 11 walks. On the mound, Seattle pitchers attacked 26 Chicago batters while allowing 20 walks.
This comes after Seattle drawing 16 walks and attacking 29 times against the Giants while recording 32 punches in just 10 walks on the hill.
“We are proud to control the strike zone on the mound and we didn’t do it today,” Servais said after Wednesday’s victory.
At the end of the series, the Mariners walked 11 batters. Right-handed pitcher Justin Dunn yielded eight walks in 4 2/3 innings while allowing three runs. Four of those walks reached the fifth inning, finishing a stretch where Dunn retired eight again from the White Sox.
“You can’t walk four guys in an entrance,” he said. “It will probably be the end of the day.”
However, the Mariners did not take advantage of the match, as they scored eight runs to win the series finale and avoid the sweep. But with Seattle batters recording nearly half of their outings through attacks and Mariners pitchers struggling to launch attacks, it’s not uncommon for the series to tip in favor of Chicago in general.
Young beginners have a lot of work to do
Staying with Dunn, Servais said “things were good” from the pitcher, but his command was fine, and that resulted in the end of the day after allowing four walks in the fifth inning. Dunn also struggled with the lead last season, with 31 batters compared to 38 attacks in 10 outings.
Servais pointed to the mental side of the game as to where Dunn should improve after Wednesday’s start.
“Part of that is the focus,” Servais said. “You have to get into the strike zone, you have to be able to make adjustments a little faster in this league or you won’t normally have very good results. Today we were lucky in that regard.”
Dunn told reporters after the game that he was struggling when the White Sox got runners at base and had to throw himself off the stretch. Part of that was due to trying to keep runners close to first base and prevent them from stealing.
“I probably put too much emphasis on controlling the game in the race and not executing throws,” Dunn said.
Like his coach, Dunn was pleased with his stuff, but he knows he has to throw more punches to be effective. Dunn’s fastball had a better speed than last year and his slider had moments at times against the White Sox.
“When I’m on the plate, I have swings and I miss them, I put myself into action,” Dunn said. “Propose them my cap, I didn’t command the ball and they did a really good job and made me throw throws.”
Dunn was not the only young Mariners starter to fight the White Sox, as left-back Justus Sheffield had his problems Monday, with five innings while allowing eight hits, five runs, two walks and recording five attacks.
The White Sox hit hard against Sheffield, which they avoided last season in their top ten. His command was not entirely at Dunn’s level, but he fell behind the batters and this caused him to lean on his fast ball instead of his slider. In addition, he struggled with his transformation, which is a key field for him against right-handed batters.
Dunn and Sheffield fights came after Yusei Kikuchi and Chris Flexen dominated the strike zone against the Giants last week. Starting the pitch was a weakness for Seattle against Chicago as Dunn and Sheffield were in trouble and James Paxton left Tuesday’s game with an injury after just 24 pitches.
Dunn and Sheffield will try to recover when they get the ball next week. As of now, both are scheduled to pitch in Baltimore against the Orioles.
The lineup struggles consistently
Like Seattle’s victory on the opening day, the Mariners got a great inning at the end of the series against the White Sox, which was huge in the team’s 8-4 victory.
The sixth inning of seven runs was a welcome show for Seattle, who entered the round 4-1, not only because, well, the races are good, but because the six-game lineup has really only had three steady beaters. .
Viously, obviously, they take six games with a grain of salt, but when you look at the Mariners’ box scores and statistical lines, the only three guys who do any kind of damage are Mitch Haniger, Ty France and Kyle Seager, who they hit first, second and third in the Seattle lineup.
Haniger reaches .280 with one home run and four RBIs while France touches .318 with one home run and three RBIs. France also had what Servais called the moment of Wednesday’s game with their 11-throw march that tied in the sixth inning with two outs, keeping the inning alive.
Post thank you on foot 11 steps. pic.twitter.com/vthu4y4lCd
– Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) April 8, 2021
That walk was especially valuable as he not only loaded the bases, but the next hitter, Seager, got a three-run double to give Seattle the lead. Seager hits .250 with three RBIs.
After those three, many of Seattle’s batting averages are down 200 or even below.
The good news for Mariners fans? Servais expects Kyle Lewis, rookie of the year in the 2020 American League, to return to the next country house, which begins next Friday, April 16 against the Houston Astros. Lewis ’presence in the middle of the lineup would greatly help lengthen the Mariners’ lineup and also add another threat to opposing pitchers.
The struggles of the novice Taylor Trammell stand out. It was a welcome show when he threw a quick first-throw ball into the right field in the Mariners ’seven-game march on Wednesday, but in five games (he had the first game in the White Sox series out), Trammell only had two hits , two RBIs, four walks and 11 stitches in 21 plate appearances.
Dylan Moore and JP Crawford, who have been hitting the back half of the lineup, have also had a relatively slow start to the plate. Seattle will need more top-down consistency of training in the future.
Another note: Seattle has only two homers so far, both reaching Saturday’s win for the Giants.
What’s next?
The sailors will hit the road for the first time in 2021, starting with a trip to Minnesota to face the twins. Opening is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. Thursday, and coverage will begin at noon on 710 ESPN Seattle.
Marco Gonzales will get the start of his second appearance of the year for the Mariners, while the Twins will throw All-Star Jose Berrios on the right.
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