A costly twilight misplay by Julio Rodríguez sinks the Mariners in a 6-3 loss to the Royals on July 2, overshadowing another Randy Arozarena home run.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Some losses just sting more than others. Tuesday night at T-Mobile Park was one of those, as the Seattle Mariners fell 6-3 to the Kansas City Royals in a game that turned on one frustrating, high-arcing fly ball. A simple play lost in the summer twilight ultimately cost the M's, overshadowing a red-hot Randy Arozarena and dropping the team to 44-41 on the season.
Three home runs in his last four at-bats for Randy Arozarena.
The game was tight until the top of the fifth inning. With the Royals leading 3-1, Salvador Perez lofted a fly ball to center field. It should have been a routine out, but center fielder Julio Rodríguez lost the ball in the tricky twilight sky. It dropped for a two-run double, extending the Royals' lead to 5-1 and sucking the air out of the stadium. Starter Emerson Hancock was tagged with the loss, allowing five earned runs over 4.2 innings. While Hancock struggled, the bullpen was a bright spot, with five relievers combining for 4.1 scoreless innings to keep the game within reach.
If there's a silver lining, it's the continued resurgence of Randy Arozarena. He blasted his 11th home run of the season, a solo shot that marked his third homer in his last four at-bats. It's the kind of power display the Mariners desperately need. Beyond Arozarena, the offense managed seven hits, with Ben Williamson and J.P. Crawford also driving in runs. It wasn't enough to overcome the deficit, but Arozarena's hot bat is a major positive takeaway.
The M's will look to put this frustrating loss behind them quickly with the series finale on Wednesday. They'll hand the ball to Logan Gilbert, who has been nothing short of dominant. Sporting a 3.55 ERA and an incredible 0.92 WHIP, Gilbert's control has been elite, with 67 strikeouts to just 8 walks this season. While the big-league club looks to salvage a series split, the future also got a little brighter. The team announced that three of its top prospects will represent the organization at the upcoming All-Star Futures Game, a testament to the strength of the farm system and a reminder that the talent pipeline is flowing.
Tonight's loss was a tough pill to swallow, a reminder of how thin the margins are in the AL West race. But with Logan 'Walter' Gilbert on the mound for the finale, Seattle has its best shot to bounce back and secure a crucial series split against the Royals. A strong start from the ace and a little more of Arozarena's magic could be just what the team needs to turn the page.
