Seattle finding the positives after its Detroit trip

May 14th, 2023

DETROIT -- The sweep was not to be.

After decisive wins in the first two games of the series vs. Detroit, Seattle took an early lead in the finale. But the Tigers clawed their way back, staging a go-ahead two-run rally in the 7th in the Mariners’ 5-3 loss on Sunday at Comerica Park.

Here’s what happened in the finale:

'Logan Un-Lucky'
just can’t seem to avoid the bad bounces.

According to his underlying metrics, Gilbert has been dominant. His xERA entering the game against Detroit was 2.65, ranking in the 89th percentile in the Majors. His strikeout rate, walk rate and chase rate all rank in the 80th percentile or better, while his fastball velocity, barrel rate, xSLG and xBA aren’t far behind.

But the bounces haven’t gone his way, which has prevented him from turning those metrics into concrete outcomes. After surrendering three runs in 5 2/3 innings, Gilbert’s ERA sits at 3.91.

Against the Tigers, Gilbert faced tough luck again, this time running into obstacles of his own making -- wild pitches.

In the first inning, with runners on first and second, Gilbert’s first wild pitch allowed both to advance. Up next, Javier Báez hit an RBI groundout to short. Had the runners not advanced, it could have been a double play.

With two outs in the third, another wild pitch moved Riley Greene from first to second before Báez came through again, lining an RBI single. Had Greene not been able to advance, Gilbert might have escaped the inning without damage. Instead, the Tigers pulled within a run, setting themselves up to tie the game in the 6th. 

“You’re not going to have your best stuff every day; it’s not always going to go your way,” said manager Scott Servais. “He’s one out away from a quality start and moving on down the road with it -- without his best stuff. Logan Gilbert is just fine. He just had one of those days. It was a little bit harder for him today than it normally is.”

A tale of two utilitymen
With getting the day off, made the start in left field, going 1-for-4 with an infield single and making a nice catch in left to end the 4th. Haggerty has struggled to begin the season, batting .121 through 15 games.

Meanwhile, , who started at second base, has been all the Mariners could have asked for. Caballero went 1-for-1 with two walks on Sunday -- he’s batting .295/.373/.364.

“[Haggerty] is probably not going to get regular playing time,” Servais said before the game. “I really like Sam, because Sam understands his role on the team. He embraces it. He knows he has to be ready every day, even though his name may not be in the lineup.”

In his career, Haggerty has seen substantial time at second base and both corner outfield positions, as well as a few games at first base, third base and center field. Caballero, meanwhile, has only played infield, so Haggerty’s versatility should continue earning him appearances. But if Caballero keeps hitting, it will only get harder for Servais to sit him down.

Bats slowly finding themselves
Perhaps the Mariners’ biggest problem early in the season has been simultaneous slumps from their biggest hitters. But against Detroit, four essential bats -- , , and -- all saw signs of escaping their funks.

Rodríguez picked up an RBI single in the loss, and went 4-for-12 with a homer in the series. Raleigh pinch-hit in the 7th and crushed an opposite-field double off the fence. France has quietly put together an 11-game hitting streak. Hernández homered as part of a 3-for-4 day in Game 2 of the series, and added a well-struck sacrifice fly in the finale.

“[I went] a couple of weeks without hitting the ball like that, and it feels really good,” Hernández said of his home run. “I just try to think about that swing, try to do that my next at-bat and keep doing it for the rest of the season. … It’s getting close.”

Far from emphatic declarations, these are subtle signs. But if Seattle’s sluggers can continue finding their way, the Mariners could end up looking back on the series vs. Detroit as a turning point for the better, regardless of the loss in the finale.

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