Mariners lose a slugfest to the Guardians on June 14, 2025, despite 7 RBIs from Samad Taylor & 2 HRs from Mitch Garver. Read how the M's offense erupted.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Well, you can't say it wasn't exciting. In one of the wildest games of the season, the Seattle Mariners' bats came to life in a massive way, only to be outdone by an equally potent Cleveland attack. In a back-and-forth affair on Saturday, June 14, the M's ultimately fell to the Guardians in a contest that felt more like a home run derby than a baseball game, leaving fans both thrilled by the offense and frustrated by the pitching.
Seven. That's how many RBIs Samad Taylor drove in on a massive day that included a home run, providing a monumental silver lining in the loss.
If you've been waiting for the Mariners' offense to wake up, your wish was granted. Mitch Garver looked like the slugger the team signed him to be, launching two homers and collecting three RBIs. Catcher Blake Hunt had a fantastic day at the plate, going 3-for-5. But the star of the show was Samad Taylor, who drove in a whopping seven runs. Unfortunately, the pitching couldn't hold up its end of the bargain. Starter George Kirby, who entered the game with a concerning 6.53 ERA, struggled to contain a Cleveland lineup that got two homers from Bo Naylor and a grand slam from Lane Thomas. Every time the M's scored, it seemed the Guardians had an immediate and bigger answer.
The timing of the day's big roster move couldn't have been more poignant. Just as the big-league pitching staff was getting shelled, the Mariners announced they were calling up right-handed reliever Zach Pop from Triple-A Tacoma. To make room, rookie starter Logan Evans was optioned down. Pop, who the M's picked up in April after his release from Toronto, posted a solid 3.52 ERA in Tacoma. The move is a clear signal that the front office recognizes the need for fresh, reliable arms in a bullpen that has been tested lately. Fans will be eager to see what Pop can bring to the table.
While the major league club was locked in a high-scoring battle, a beacon of hope for the future continued to shine brightly down in the minors. Top prospect Lazaro Montes, the organization's No. 2 ranked player, crushed his 14th home run of the season for the High-A Everett AquaSox. On a day filled with homers at the big-league level, it's fitting that the 'Cuban Missile' added one of his own. Montes's consistent power display is a thrilling reminder of the high-impact talent developing in the farm system, offering a glimpse of future offensive firepower.
It was a wild, frustrating, yet strangely encouraging Saturday for the Mariners. A loss is a loss, but an offensive explosion like that can't be ignored. The key now is for the pitching to find its footing, starting with tomorrow's series finale. With a new arm in the bullpen and the bats finally awake, the team has a chance to salvage the series and prove that this offensive outburst is a new trend, not a one-day fluke.
