By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA – Perhaps as a cruel nod to the 21-year playoff drought, the first playoff game in Seattle in that period of time lasted 18 long innings. The Mariners and their divisional rivals, the Houston Astros, went six hours and 22 minutes of baseball, only to share one run between the two. Astros rookie Jeremy Pena took Penn Murfee deep in the top of the 18th inning, and the Seattle hitters failed to answer, just like they had the 17 innings before. At the end of the long day, Mariners fans should be happy with the 2022 ballclub that finally ended the 21-year drought, and won the first playoff series in franchise history in the same length of time.
Seattle's bats couldn't muster enough to win game three (Photos by Liv Lyons)
The bats remaining quiet comes back to bite you
For the large and vast majority of the 2022 regular season, the Seattle Mariners have been an offensively inconsistent ballclub. It’s been my biggest gripe with this team all year. Even if you look at some of the biggest moments for the Mariners, the inconsistency remained prevalent. In the game where Cal Raleigh ended the drought, the Mariners failed to score before that. The first game in Toronto, Seattle scored three runs in the first inning and only plated one more throughout the next eight innings. In the first two games in Houston, Seattle couldn’t add insurance runs to close out the Astros.
Over the course of the first nine innings, the Mariners were only able to muster four hits. Houston starter Lance McCullers Jr is a great pitcher and spun a gem, but in an elimination game and the first postseason contest in Seattle in 21-years, the bats need to be better. Over the course of the next nine innings (or, game two), the Mariners were only able to find three hits. Seattle went 0-8 with runners in scoring position. Stars Julio Rodriguez, Ty France, Eugenio Suarez, Mitch Haniger, and Cal Raleigh all failed to deliver the punch that sent us to a game four on Sunday. Perhaps the cruelest instance of this was a double by Julio Rodriguez in the bottom of the eighth inning that was just a foot away from being a home run. Seattle must add more offense in free agency in order to solidify themselves as a true contender, and show they mean business.
George Kirby delivered seven scoreless innings in his first postseason start (Photo by Liv Lyons)
Pitching does its job, but one swing is a fatal stroke
Similar to the Mariners offensive inconsistency remaining prevalent all season long, the Seattle pitching was rock solid (nod Luis Castillo, La Piedra) all 2022 long. That was no different in game three of the ALDS, as starter George Kirby was brilliant through seven innings. The 24-year-old Kirby’s performance was followed up by the entirety of the Mariners bullpen plus Robbie Ray (for one inning), only allowing one run. Unfortunately, that one run was a punch that Seattle’s offense could not retaliate against.
Seattle emptied out their bullpen over the course of 11-innings (Photos by Liv Lyons)
George Kirby provided a Felix-like performance (Hernandez was on hand to throw the first pitch in an emotional moment), throwing seven scoreless innings. Kirby allowed only six hits, hit two batters, and struck out five, but did the job necessary to set his team up for a win. In order, relievers Andres Munoz, Diego Castillo, Matt Brash, Paul Sewald, Erik Swanson, Matt Festa, Matt Boyd, Penn Murfee, and Robbie Ray all did excellent work after Kirby. Realistically, the one run Murfee gave up would be fine in a nine-inning game, let alone an 18-inning game. Seattle pitchers emptied out the tank, but their offensive counter parts couldn’t do their job in order to stave off elimination.
Mariners fans packed the stands for Seattle’s first home playoff game in 21-years (Photo by Liv Lyons)
47k stay to watch the first postseason game in Seattle in 21 years
For the first playoff game in this city in 21 long years, T-Mobile Park was packed to the brim. Standing room only tickets were packed, and every seat was filled. Through the smoke-filled air of Seattle, and the nearly six-and-a-half-hour-long game, the large majority of the crowd stayed. As the game dragged on and the game continued to run along with no hits, no fireworks in the form of homers, the Mariners fans stayed faithful. It was incredible to see the fans waving their rally towels pregame, and to see most of those fans there as we entered the 18th inning. This is a baseball city, and this is just the beginning of what this franchise is going to accomplish going forward.
Julio Rodriguez and the Mariners will return in 2023, primed for a deep playoff run (Photo by Liv Lyons)
Reflection
Although the frustration and sadness of the loss will remain present for a bit, for the first time in my existence, there is solid and legitimate hope to do more damage in the playoffs next season. A young core, solidified players, great pitching, and willingness to spend have the Mariners in position to be actual World Series contenders. Think about that past sentence. Seattle has not had that legitimately in years. Not the years with Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz. The years like 2016 where they were oh so close to breaking the drought. That drought is over, it’s done and it’s in the past. With the addition of more offensive spending in free agency and potentially a signing of a fifth starter in the rotation, the Mariners are primed to do damage in the playoffs, and could potentially take down the boogeyman, aka the Astros.
Quick notes
The 1-0 loss is the first of that score in Mariners postseason history.
George Kirby is the second pitcher in Mariners history to throw 7+ scoreless innings in a postseason start, joining teammate Luis Castillo
The Mariners are the first team in American League history, and the sixth in MLB history, to have multiple starters go 7+ scoreless innings with no walks in the same postseason.
Houston went 0-11 with runners in scoring position
Today’s attendance was 47,690, more than the seats inside of the ballpark (47,378)
The largest postseason crowd in Mariners history is 48,052
Today’s game is the longest game in Mariners playoff history at 6:22 and innings at 18.
The previous record was the 15-inning, 5:12 ALDS game two against the Yankees
18-innings is tied for the longest game in the playoffs in MLB history (which has been done three times previously)
What’s next?
Seattle heads into an off-season with the most hope it’s had for next season in quite some time. The next things to keep an eye on for our Mariners are free agency and then Spring Training. Circling Seattle Sports will have you up to date on all things Mariners through the offseason, at Spring Training (keep an eye out for that), and during the 2023 season! Be on the lookout soon for a more in-depth breakdown of the 2022 season in the coming days.
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