M's fan 20 times, matching record for nine-inning game
The Seattle Mariners continue to struggle to hit with men in scoring position, and they added a new problem Tuesday, a lack of contact.
Seattle came into the series opener against the Los Angeles Angels having collected just one hit with men in scoring position in a three-game weekend series against the Texas Rangers, and things didn't get much better against in Anaheim.
The Mariners' skid reach 1-for-47 before Franklin Gutierrez hit a run-scoring double in the seventh inning. Two outs later, Justin Smoak added another hit with a runner in scoring position, a two-run homer, but Seattle wound up on the short end of a 5-4 decision.
On the night, Seattle went 2-for-13 with a man on second, third or both.
Manager Eric Wedge keeps talking about how his hitters need to fight through at-bats, but that didn't happen Tuesday. Seattle fanned 13 times in the first five innings against Angels right-hander Zack Greinke and wound up matching the big-league record for a nine-inning game with 20 strikeouts.
"It was an odd game," Wedge said. "We are getting guys on base; we have got to battle through at-bats."
The Mariners left eight men on base against the Angels after leaving 19 on base in the Texas series.
Seattle won two of the three against the Rangers, but with some more timely hitting, the Mariners could be sitting on a four-game winning streak.
Instead, the Mariners suffered their 82nd loss and are guaranteed a third consecutive losing season.
