" 𝔹𝕖𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕦𝕟𝕚𝕢𝕦𝕖 𝕚𝕤 𝕓𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕟 𝕓𝕖𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕗𝕖𝕔𝕥 "

There’s a nucleus here that showed quantifiable development, but also the reality of a need to continue adding talent externally this offseason. Nearly the entire 26-man roster sat on the top step of the home dugout during Houston’s celebration, soaking it all in as motivation to be in that exuberant position next

October.

“You never want to see somebody else celebrating on your home field, but hats off to them,” catcher Cal Raleigh said. “It's still going to be imprinted in a lot of our minds for a while, and we're going to take it next year and remember how it felt.”

Andrés Muñoz's 101 mph K's

On paper, this was a sweep and the Mariners' 15th loss in 22 games to the juggernauts that they share a division with -- the one that they continue to chase. Yet in each of these three contests, had one pitch or swing gone another way, the dynamic of this series could’ve shifted in a completely different direction.

Seattle was outscored by one run in Games 1 and 3 and two in Game 2.

Onward. #EmbraceTheChaos

 

Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images

“We feel close and yet still feel far away,” president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said. “They're going on to the LCS for the sixth straight year. And we recognize and respect what they do, but we feel like we can play with anybody -- and I think we just showed it for three days.”

The Mariners led in every game but their last. Yet, as was the case in the opening acts in Houston, Saturday’s showing underscored that Seattle lacked the knockout punch.

Jarred Kelenic's Sliding Catch

The Mariners went 7-for-60 with 22 strikeouts. They reached second base just three times and third base just once -- in the second inning -- while going 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranding 10 runners total. Though Saturday’s game was for the taking, they struggled to seize the moment offensively.

“It's a tough way to lose, especially being so close to playing them so well,” outfielder Mitch Haniger said. “Unfortunately, we didn't get it done and this one hurts. ... Our pitching staff has been great. We've just got to put more runs up on the board.”

It was a tough ending to an otherwise promising season. The Mariners didn’t quite conquer their division rivals, but they certainly have their attention -- for next year and beyond.

 

 

'We'll be back:' Seattle Mariners end playoff run after 1-0 loss to Astros in Game 3© Provided by KOMO-TV Seattle

King Felix Returns to Throw First Pitch

Félix Hernández returns to T-Mobile Park to throw out the first pitch in front of a sold-out crowd for the first postseason game in Seattle since 2001.

Forever our King 

 

This. Was. Perfect. Today. Thank you @RealKingFelix

 

 

 

Cal Raleigh played through much of the last month with excruciating pain in his left thumb. He is an absolute warrior, and he deserves our undying and perpetual respect

 

 

Mitch Haniger revealed he hopes to stay in Seattle next year as free agency looms for him this offseason.

 

Seattle Mariners vs Houston Astros (ExtraTime 17&18) ALDS Game 3 (10/15/22) | MLB Highlights 2022

Jeremy Pena, Luis Garcia & Dusty Baker React to Houston Astros Advancing to ALCS, ALDS vs. Mariners

ALDS Game 3 Preview News Conference

ALDS Game 3 Pregame News Conference

After Castillo surrendered a solo homer to Kyle Tucker in the second inning, the Mariners responded with two runs in the fourth, scoring via a fielder’s choice on a quirky dribbler from Carlos Santana and an RBI knock by Dylan Moore. It forced Astros starter Framber Valdez to labor through 26 pitches, which led him

to be pulled with two outs in the sixth, exiting after a walk to Moore that loaded the bases.

• Washington renames ferries for Mariners

With Raleigh on deck, the move from the All-Star lefty to righty reliever Héctor Neris also set up the switch-hitting backstop to hit left-handed, his far superior swing, but he grounded out to leave the bases juiced. That moment came just before Alvarez’s big blast. The Mariners also had another rally brewing in the

eighth with one on, but Jarred Kelenic hit a 351-foot flyout to the warning track and Raleigh struck out looking.

That brought up Julio Rodríguez, whose game plan—like many of the Mariners—was to be aggressive on the fastball, trying to keep Valdez from getting to his curveball. So Julio, first pitch swinging on a curveball, scalded a ball at 100 MPH, but a 32-year-old José Altuve decided to summon the spirit of prime Jeter:

That set the tone for the day—the Astros brought their A game, defensively, with even the slug-footed Álvarez making some solid plays in the outfield.

The Mariners stranded nine baserunners and went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position outside of Moore’s RBI single. They also had seven hard-hit balls (95 mph or harder) go for outs, which they point to as an illustration of a sound approach despite the results.

“You’ve got to finish it out, no question,” Servais said. “It's difficult to do that on the road in the playoffs. ... I don't know what else you want me to say. We have played very good baseball.”

In Division Series with the current 2-2-1 format, teams winning both Games 1 and 2 in their home ballparks have advanced 30 of 33 times (91%), with 19 finishing off the sweep in Game 3. Those odds aren’t in Seattle’s favor, but they aren’t backing down.

“We’re just as good as them, and [we] are right with them,” Mitch Haniger said. “So we know we can beat them. We're looking forward to Saturday, playing at home.”

Scott Servais on Mariners' Loss,

"Yordan Alvarez is unbelievable" Scott Servais DISAPPOINTED Mariners loss to Astros 4-2 Game 2 ALDS

Castillo on Game 2 Loss, Outing

"There are so many kids that grew up in the Pacific Northwest that don't know anything about the Mariners being in the playoffs," Servais said. "And now we get to show them."

Ray hadn’t pitched out of the bullpen since Sept. 29, 2020, and before that, since Oct. 4, 2017. In the regular season, he had made only two career relief appearances in '14; neither of those situations were in high-leverage spots. The only other lefty in Seattle’s ‘pen is Matthew Boyd, who has been a mid-leverage

arm used in multi-inning pockets. The only other realistic option was leverage righty Erik Swanson.

“I pretty much knew that was kind of my pocket of guys, starting with Alvarez, from the beginning,” Ray said.

One game removed from their historic comeback in Toronto, the Mariners lost a game that was in the bag until, all of a sudden, it wasn’t. Making it more tough to stomach was that they chased Verlander after four innings and their offense was seemingly unfazed by this huge stage.

Julio Rodríguez's Two-Run Double Fire us up, @JRODshow44 

 

 

But once again, their house of horrors at Minute Maid Park chronicled another chapter, this one the ugliest yet. The Mariners are now 7-31 here since the start of 2019.

Opposing teams were 8-2 when scoring at least seven runs in this ballpark during the regular season, and Alvarez's walk-off homer was the first in postseason history with a player's team trailing by multiple runs.

Eugenio Suárez's Solo Home Run

“It's like a heavyweight fight,” Servais said. “You're going to get punched. It's how you respond in those moments and that's a tough one. Today, I thought we had it in hand. You’ve got to give them credit. Certainly, they’ve been in this spot many times before -- and you don't quit.”

Yet this one puts the Mariners on the precipice of the precarious. In the history of best-of-five postseason series, Game 1 winners have gone on to win the series 102 of 144 times (71%). In Division Series with the current 2-2-1 format, teams winning Game 1 at their home ballparks have advanced 34 of 47 times

(72%).

Gilbert was slated to pitch Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series in Toronto on Sunday, but he wasn’t needed after the Mariners’ incredible comeback that secured a two-game sweep. He last pitched on Sept. 30, giving him 10 full days of rest heading into this outing. Where a long layoff might hinder most starters, it

could be a benefit for Gilbert, who threw 185 2/3 innings in the regular season, upwards of 50 more than his previous career high in 2019.

“It's a big change knowing that we usually go on five days, and now, getting those extra days,” Gilbert said. “I've [thrown] off the mound a couple times because I thought I might be starting in Toronto. ... So it's all good changes and nothing bad. It's, if anything, good to get a little extra rest, especially at this point

in the year."

Fatigue has been a theme of observation for the Mariners’ young arms, specifically Gilbert, and more so, George Kirby, as they charter through innings accumulation that they’ve never previously reached.

Justin Verlander Reacts to Houston Astros vs. Seattle Mariners ALDS Matchup & Returning to Playoffs

But after a tough stretch out of the All-Star break, which featured two starts against these Astros, Gilbert has hit his stride, with a 2.00 ERA while holding hitters to a .195/.250/.305 (.555 OPS) slash line in his final six regular-season starts. It was a similar showing to September 2021, when he had a 2.70 ERA and a

.205/.252/.347 (.598) slash line.

“I think just being out there knowing that we're playing in big games and big moments, it's easy to get up,” Gilbert said. “Your body gets excited and amped up. So I think that's probably a big part of it.”

Gilbert also had the most success against Houston of any Seattle starter in the regular season other than Chris Flexen, who probably won’t be used as a starter after transitioning to the bullpen in early August. Gilbert had a 2.52 ERA and held the Astros to a .228/.283/.348 (.631 OPS) slash line in four outings, with

the Mariners going 2-2 in those starts. Of note, he surrendered just one homer against the 100 batters faced.

His task will be tall, especially facing Verlander, who will go down among the greatest pitchers of his generation in what might be his best season yet. Gilbert grew up regularly watching the two-time Cy Young Award winner, who put together an unprecedented season at age 39 while returning from Tommy John

surgery. Verlander went 18-4 with an MLB-leading and career-best 1.75 ERA over 28 starts.

“I, obviously, really respect him and am so impressed with what he's done this year, especially after [Tommy John surgery],” Gilbert said. “He was one of the guys I looked up to growing up early on, so it was a big deal getting a start against him [in July]. It's a big deal [Tuesday], so I’ll definitely take that in. It only

adds to the situation.”