Mariners lose a 3-2 heartbreaker to the Royals on July 4, but Logan Evans' dominant start & Jorge Polanco's HR provide a huge silver lining. Recap.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a night of conflicting emotions at T-Mobile Park. On one hand, the Mariners dropped a winnable 3-2 heartbreaker to the Kansas City Royals, a familiar story of missed opportunities. But on the other, two massive silver linings emerged that could have huge implications for the second half: the brilliant return of rookie Logan Evans to the mound and the long-awaited offensive explosion from Jorge Polanco.
The Mariners outhit the Royals 10-5 but stranded nine runners on base, a painful summary of the night's offensive woes.
Recalled from Tacoma just before the game, Logan Evans pitched like he never left. In his first MLB start since May, the rookie was masterful, carving up the Royals for 5.2 scoreless innings. He scattered just three hits and a walk while striking out three, throwing 56 of his 95 pitches for strikes. With Bryce Miller on the shelf, the Mariners desperately needed someone to step up, and Evans delivered in a big way. His poise and command suggest he's not just a temporary fix but a potential mainstay in this rotation through the All-Star break and beyond.
If Evans' performance was a relief for the pitching staff, Jorge Polanco's night was a massive sigh of relief for the offense. After battling a slump and knee soreness, Polanco looked like his old self, going 3-for-4. He kicked off the scoring with a solo blast in the fourth—his first since June 13—and added two doubles for good measure. A productive Polanco, who now has 12 homers and 39 RBI, changes the entire dynamic of this lineup. Last night was a crucial step in getting one of their key offensive pieces back on track.
Despite the individual heroics, the final score tells the tale. The game unraveled in the seventh when the bullpen couldn't hold the 1-0 lead, with two walks from Casey Legumina setting the table for a go-ahead two-run single by Vinnie Pasquantino. The M's generated plenty of traffic on the bases all night but repeatedly failed to get the big hit, stranding nine runners. A ninth-inning solo shot from Dominic Canzone created a glimmer of hope, but Royals closer Carlos Estévez shut the door, striking out Julio Rodríguez and getting Cal Raleigh to ground out to end the threat and the game in front of a frustrated 38,030 fans.
The sting of this loss will linger, but the positives are undeniable. Now, the Mariners must carry the momentum from Evans and Polanco into a pivotal weekend series. They'll hand the ball to the reliable Bryan Woo (7-4, 2.93 ERA) on Friday night to open a three-game set against the Pittsburgh Pirates. It's a perfect opportunity to flush this tough loss, string together some wins, and prove that last night's offensive potential can translate into victories.
