9/2/25

(Tampa, FL) Vibes have never been lower in 2025 for the Seattle Mariners as they entered the middle game of their three-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday. With the final month getting off to a horrendous start, the team held a team meeting before the game on Tuesday with players and coaches trying to rally as the Mariners continue to see their lead in the Wild Card race shrink. With just a 1 1/2 game lead over Texas and Kansas City, Cleveland, and Tampa Bay all taking advantage of the Mariners skid, the pressure has really begun to get to the Mariners and so far they have not responded well.

Runs were not going to be easy to come by in game two as both teams sent starters to the mound with ERAs under 3.00. For Seattle, Bryan Woo would attempt to start a new six plus inning streak as he took the mound in humid Tampa. For the Rays, it would be Drew Rasmussen taking on the Mariners for the second time this season and looking to replicate his success from his outing in Seattle.

Rays 6, Mariners 5 (Game Two)

Once again Seattle found themselves behind right out of the way. A one-out walk by Yandy Díaz put the first baserunner of the game on for Brandon Lowe. The second baseman’s success against the Mariners continued as he hit his 15th double of the season to put runners on second and third. Junior Caminero came through with a base hit to left to drive in the first run of the game, making it 1-0. Josh Lowe doubled that lead with an RBI groundout as the Mariners weren’t able to turn a tricky double play up the middle. Woo was not off to a great start as the M’s trailed early, 2-0.

An awkward moment occurred in the top of the 3rd. After some questionable calls behind home plate, the Mariners dugout began to bark at home plate umpire Manny Gonzalez. He would then eject Dominic Canzone who claimed he did not say anything and that brought Dan Wilson out as well. With Mariner legend Lou Pinella in attendance, Wilson followed in his former skipper’s steps as he was ejected as well. That would bring Luke Raley into the game for Canzone but the strike zone would not get any better.

Bryan Woo stranded two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the 3rd and then the Mariners struck in the top half of the 4th. Cal Raleigh would end his skid with his 51st home run of the season out to right field. It was Cal’s first home run since August 25th and got the M’s on the board. On the very next pitch, Julio Rodríguez drove a cutter the other way out to right center that would get out for J-Rod’s 27th of the season to tie the game at 2-2. Drew Rasmussen settled in to get the next two batters before Jorge Polanco came to the plate. Polo hammer a first pitch curveball 408-feet for a no-doubter and his 23rd of the year. Three solo shots in the inning had got the Mariners out in front with a 3-2 lead.

Bryan Woo retired the next six batters that he faced but with a rising pitch count, Woo had to keep things rolling in the 6th. He would not be able to do that as Junior Caminero launched his 40th home run of the season to lead off the inning to tie the game back up at 3-3. That would end Woo’s day as Caleb Ferguson came in and immediately struggled. A single, a hit batter, and a walk loaded the bases with still nobody out as Eduard Bazardo had to come in earlier than anticipated. Tristan Gray would pinch hit and drive in a run with a sacrifice fly to center to make it 4-3. Hunter Feduccia would then smoke a line drive that was caught by Josh Naylor at first, turning it into a double play to minimize the damage.

Edwin Uceta entered for Tampa Bay to pitch the 7th and he also ran into some trouble. Eugenio Suárez singled and Jorge Polanco drew a walk to put two on with nobody out. Luke Raley laid down a successful sacrifice bunt to put those runners on second and third with just one out. J.P. Crawford couldn’t put the ball in play but did draw a walk to load the bases for rookie Cole Young. He would get the job done with a fly ball deep enough to center to score Suárez without a throw and tie the game at 4-4. After Randy Arozarena walked to load the bases, Kevin Kelly had to come in for Tampa Bay against MVP candidate Cal Raleigh. Unfortunately, Raleigh couldn’t add another MVP moment as he struck out to end the inning and the threat.

Another lefty came in for Seattle in the bottom of the 7th as Gabe Speier came in to pitch. A tough luck single by Chandler Simpson began the inning with a jam shot that got down and Yandy Díaz then walked to put two on. After Brandon Lowe struck out swinging, Simpson would steal third for his 39th of the season to put men on the corners. Then Junior Caminero capped off his massive game. A double into the left field corner would give Caminero two more RBI on the game to make it four for him and put Tampa Bay back in front 6-4.

Griffin Jax came in to pitch the 9th for the Rays with the M’s needing two to keep the game alive. Walks to Jorge Polanco and Luke Raley put the first two men on before J.P. Crawford reached with a bloop single to load the bases with nobody out. Garrett Cleavinger entered to try to escape the jam first facing pinch hitter Mitch Garver. The backup catcher smoked a line drive to right that was right at Josh Lowe who made the catch. Polanco would score to make it 6-5 but the other two runners stayed put. Randy Arozarena couldn’t hurt his former team as he flew out to right before Cal Raleigh hit a weak pop-up to Caminero at third. Seattle missed a massive opportunity and fell a run short as they dropped another game 6-5 and another series in the process.

Notable Performances

Mariners

Rays

• Junior Caminero- 3-4, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, R,
• Josh Lowe- 1-4, RBI, R, SB
• Drew Rasmussen (ND)- 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

What’s Next

Seattle’s (73-66) road nightmares continues since the All-Star Break as they have now lost six consecutive series on the road. A 6-15 record on the road since the break has seen the M’s lose hope in catching either New York or Boston, both of whom won on Tuesday. Luckily, Houston was the Yankees victim while Texas lost to Arizona, Cleveland lost to Boston, and Kansas City fell to the Angels. So Seattle remains three games back of Houston in the AL West and 1 1/2 games up on Texas for the final Wild Card spot while the Royals sit 2 1/2 back, Tampa Bay 3 1/2 out, and Cleveland four games back.

For the second straight series, the Mariners will try to avoid being swept in the finale as the M’s and Rays finish the series on Wednesday at 4:35pm. George Kirby (8-6, 3.94 ERA) will have the pressure on him to snap the skid in the final game of the series. Kirby has been very reliable since the break with six quality starts out of his eight appearances. For Tampa Bay, it will be Adrian Houser (7-4, 2.85 ERA) taking the ball in the finale. Since being acquired by the Rays at the deadline, Houser has allowed 14 runs on 33 hits in 26 innings with nine walks and 19 strikeouts, including giving up four runs in five innings against the M’s back on August 10th.

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