The Mariners' bats fell silent in a 3-1 loss to the Red Sox on June 18, 2025. Luis Castillo pitched well, but Garrett Crochet's dominance sealed the win.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a frustrating case of déjà vu at T-Mobile Park on Wednesday. After a spectacular showing the night before, the Mariners' offense went ice-cold, falling 3-1 to the Boston Red Sox in the series finale. A dominant performance from Boston starter Garrett Crochet and a couple of timely home runs were all it took to send the M's packing with a series loss, leaving a sour taste after a promising start.
Cal Raleigh now leads all MLB catchers with 27 home runs.
The game really boiled down to two swings of the bat for Boston. Luis Castillo was solid, but not perfect, surrendering a solo shot to Marcelo Mayer in the 2nd and a decisive two-run homer to Trevor Story in the 4th. That was all the Red Sox needed. Castillo finished with a respectable line of 6 innings, 3 runs, 4 hits, and 7 strikeouts, but the offense gave him nothing to work with. Seattle's lone run came in the 2nd inning when Randy Arozarena scampered home on a wild pitch—a fitting summary of an offense that couldn't manufacture a rally all afternoon.
The man of the hour for Boston was starter Garrett Crochet, who put on a clinic. For six innings, he completely neutralized the Mariners' lineup, allowing just one run on six scattered hits while striking out seven and, crucially, walking none. The M's just couldn't solve him. They had chances but failed to get a key hit with runners on base, a recurring theme in their losses. Dylan Moore's 1-for-3 day with two strikeouts was emblematic of the team's struggles to make consistent, hard contact against the crafty lefty.
Despite the disappointing loss, it's not all doom and gloom. Catcher Cal Raleigh, fresh off his grand slam heroics, is getting national attention, surging in hitter power rankings. His 27 home runs lead all MLB catchers, a testament to the game-changing power he provides from behind the plate. And looking further ahead, the future is flashing its power down on the farm. No. 7 prospect Michael Arroyo is on an absolute tear for High-A Everett, launching his 14th homer of the season—his fourth in just the last three games. It’s a great reminder that while the big-league club might have an off day, the talent pipeline is brewing.
Losing a home series always stings, especially when it drops you out of first place. The Mariners have shown they can compete with anyone, but the offense needs to find consistency to support its strong pitching. The power of Cal Raleigh is undeniable and the promise of prospects like Michael Arroyo is exciting, but for now, the focus must be on stringing together wins and reclaiming the top spot in the AL West.
