5/10/26

(Chicago, IL) A new road trip brought new challenges for the Seattle Mariners who left T-Mobile Park on a high note after taking a series with the Atlanta Braves. The M’s would hit the road for seven games and the start of 13 games in 13 days starting with a three-game series in the Windy City with the Chicago White Sox. Seattle was still looking to make the improvements needed to claim the top spot in the AL West.

These are the same Chicago White Sox we have seen in recent years. While not yet a serious playoff contender, Chicago has gotten better across the board from a better pitching staff to a better lineup. Munetake Murakami has been a big reason for that with his incredible start to his MLB career after coming over from Japan. Still, the White Sox would create a unique test for the M’s as both looked for some more consistency.

Mariners 12, White Sox 8 (Game One, May 8th)

Game one would be a solid pitching matchup as Sean Burke would take the ball for the White Sox as one of three starters that have really been impressive out of the gates this season. Maybe nobody in baseball has made a bigger statement early on than Emerson Hancock who has forced his way into the Mariners starting rotation and he would try to continue making that statement in the opener.

In their Chicago Bulls style City Connect jerseys, Burke and the White Sox made quick work of the Mariners in the 1st. In the bottom half, MLB history would be made. Munetaka Murakami had become the second player in history to homer in the opening game of seven consecutive series. This time, Murakami would pass Eddie Murray to become the only player to do that in eight consecutive series. Murakami went the other way with a sinker for his 15th home run of the season, tying him with Aaron Judge for the MLB lead. Two batters in and the White Sox had a 1-0 lead.

Seattle would get a threat going in the 2nd as Burke got a little wild. Josh Naylor singled to start the inning before Burke hit Randy Arozarena to put two on. J.P. Crawford and Luke Raley both struck out after that but Dominic Canzone drew a walk to load the bases with two outs. Burke continued to be wild as he hit Cole Young to bring in a run to tie the game at 1-1. Seattle left the bases loaded after the returning Brendan Donovan flew out, but the game was still even.

It looked like Sean Burke had recovered after retiring Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez to start the 3rd. Seattle then began to rally on back-to-back singles by Josh Naylor and Randy Arozarena to put two on. J.P. Crawford worked a walk to load the bases for Luke Raley. The lefty fell behind 0-2 before Sean Burke threw a fastball right down the middle. Raley was all over and sent a 113-mph laser beam over the wall in right field for a grand slam and his seventh home run of the season. Seattle’s two-out rally had netted them a 5-1 lead.

Unfortunately, the lead didn’t last long. Emerson Hancock issues a walk to Tristan Peters and he would eventually come into score on a two-out RBI single by Sam Antonacci to make it 5-2. Walks really hurt Hancock as he usually lives in the strike zone but would walk Munetaka Murakami and Miguel Vargas to load the bases. One of the cornerstones of the White Sox rebuild in Colson Montgomery sent a line drive into left center and the ball got by a diving Julio Rodríguez. All three runners would score on Montgomery’s eighth double of the year and the Mariners lead was gone as the score was 5-5.

Both Burke and Hancock got through the 4th with no baserunners allowed before the tie was broken in the 5th. Leading off the inning, Julio Rodríguez stood in for the third time against Burke and went after a well located slider on the outside corner. J-Rod was still able to barrel it up out to center for his sixth home run of the season and Seattle’s second homer of the game. The M’s were back in front 6-5.

Seattle would not be done in the 5th yet but Sean Burke would be. A one-out single by Randy Arozarena saw the Sox go to their bullpen as Sean Newcomb came in to pitch. J.P. Crawford welcome him to the game with a base hit to right to put men on the corners for Luke Raley. Raley was not able to cash in on the opportunity as he grounded out after Crawford was caught stealing to put an abrupt end to the inning.

Hancock would get through the 6th before his day came to an end but the lead was much bigger for the Mariners before Eduard Bazardo took the mound. Tyler Davis recorded a couple of quick outs to start the 7th before Randy Arozarena singled and would move up to third after stealing second and moving up to third on a throwing error. After J.P. Crawford drew another walk, Luke Raley landed another haymaker. This time it would be a three-run shot out to right and his second homer of the game and eighth of the season. This game was broken wide open with the M’s leading 9-5.

Seattle’s home run barrage still wasn’t over. In the 8th, Josh Naylor joined the party with a three-run shot to center for his fifth home run of the year to make it a season-high 12 runs for the Mariners. They would avoid using the rest of their high leverage arms as they went with Alex Hoppe and Josh Simpson who would both have some issues as Hoppe gave up two in the 8th while Simpson gave up one in the 9th. It wouldn’t hurt as after giving up a home run to Randal Grichuk to start the inning, Simpson retired the next three including two strikeouts to end it. Seattle’s offensive breakout was more than enough to take the opener 12-8.

Notable Performances

Mariners

White Sox

• Munetaka Murakami- 1-4, HR, RBI, 2 R, BB
• Colson Montgomery- 1-5, 2B, 3 RBI
• Sean Burke (L, 2-3)- 4.1 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO

White Sox 6, Mariners 1 (Game Two, May 9th)

Seattle hoped to have saved some runs for game two of the series on Saturday. With a lot of talk surrounding the rotation with Bryce Miller’s return on the horizon, there would be extra attention on Luis Castillo in game two. He would face struggling lefty Anthony Kay who would try to take advantage of the M’s struggles against southpaws this season.

Julio Rodríguez was caught stealing in the top of the 1st to erase the first baserunner of the game. In the home half of the 1st, Chicago put some pressure on the Seattle veteran as Sam Antonacci singled and stole second to put a man in scoring position with nobody out. Antonacci moved to third on a fly out by Munetaka Murakami but Castillo struck out Miguel Vargas to keep him at third with two outs. Colson Montgomery came to the plate and continued his nice series against Seattle. After fouling off a 1-2 pitch, Montgomery caught up to a fastball up and in and sent it out to right for his 10th home run of the year. Chicago cashed in early to grab a 2-0 lead.

A great diving catch by Sam Antonacci kept Seattle silent in the 2nd before Seattle failed to cash in on a White Sox error in the 3rd and left two stranded. Chicago would use the long ball to add on in the bottom half of the 3rd after Luis Castillo hit Sam Antonacci to begin the inning. He kept Murakami quiet with a strikeout before Miguel Vargas would leave the yard. A two-run shot to left center would be his eighth of the season and doubled the lead to 4-0.

A double play killed Seattle’s 4th but they would draw blood in the 5th. Mitch Garver began the inning with a walk before an error at first base by Munetaka Murakami put runners on first and second. Leo Rivas moved the runners up with a sacrifice bunt before Rob Refsnyder got Seattle on the board. A sacrifice fly to left brought home Garver to make it 4-1. Seattle would leave Cole Young stranded in scoring position after Cal Raleigh took a called strike three to force the Mariners to settle for one.

Luis Castillo would not come back out for the 5th as the Mariners went to the bullpen with Josh Simpson. He retired the first two he faced before Miguel Vargas popped up yet again. Just like Luke Raley did in the opener, Vargas earned himself a multi-home run game with a solo shot to left for his ninth of the season to get that run back for the White Sox, making it 5-1.

Seattle only had one baserunner in the 6th and 7th before threatening in the 8th. With Bryan Hudson on the mound, a two-out walk by Julio Rodríguez and a single by Josh Naylor put runners on the corners. They couldn’t cash in however as Randy Arozarena went down swinging. That was their last threat as after Chicago added one more on Edgar Quero hitting into a fielder’s choice, the M’s went down in order against Tyler Schweitzer in the 9th. From a breakout in the opener to a slumber in game two, the series was even as the Mariners fell to the White Sox 6-1.

Notable Performances

Mariners

White Sox

• Miguel Vargas- 2-3, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, BB
• Colson Montgomery- 1-4, HR, 2 RBI, R
• Anthony Kay (W, 2-1)- 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO

White Sox 2, Mariners 1 (Game Three, May 10th)

Pink was all over Rate Field in Chicago as the Mariners and White Sox battled it out on Mother’s Day in the rubber game of the three-game series. Seattle’s offense had been on both ends of the spectrum after they scored 12 runs in the opener and only one in game two. In the finale, a pitchers duel was expected as Logan Gilbert continued his search for consistency against a breakout ace for the Sox in Davis Martin.

Seattle would get an early threat going in the 1st off of Davis Martin. Julio Rodríguez doubled for the eighth time this season to put a man in scoring position just two batters into the game. A wild pitch saw J-Rod move up to third on a wild pitch with one out, Josh Naylor walked to put men on the corners. After Cal Raleigh struck out, Randy Arozarena clutched up with a base hit back up the middle to bring home a run. A clutch two-out knock put Seattle in front 1-0.

Logan Gilbert was excellent on Sunday after striking out the side in the 1st to strand a one-out double. That was the only hit Gilbert allowed in his outing in what was his best outing in about two years. Gilbert has been very good in starts since his incredible outing in San Francisco in 2023, but this was next level stuff from one of the best in the game when he is on. The Opening Day starter went six scoreless innings with just one hit, no walks and nine strikeouts in his best outing of the year.

Seattle did not really threaten for any additional runs while Gilbert was still in the game as it remained 1-0 into the 7th. The M’s did have a threat after a leadoff double by Connor Joe against Sean Newcomb. He moved to third on a J.P. Crawford groundout but Newcomb would strand him at third on a strikeout of Rob Refsnyder and a flyout by Cole Young to keep it a one-run game as Seattle squandered the scoring opportunity.

Jose A. Ferrer was in some hot water in the home half of the 7th as Chicago looked to get on the board. Munetaka Murakami singled to begin the inning before retiring Miguel Vargas and Colson Montgomery. With a man on first and two outs, Chicago rallied with a Chase Meidroth single before Ferrer hit Edgar Quero to load the bases with two outs. A soft chopper off the bat of Tristan Peters looked like it would tie the game but Cole Young fielded it near second base and made a terrific throw against his body to first to just get Peters to end the inning. The great defensive play by the young second baseman preserved the 1-0 Mariners lead.

In the bottom of the 8th, Eduard Bazardo was on to try to get the game to the Seattle closer for the 9th. It would not happen. Randal Grichuk hit a solo home run for his second of the season to make it 1-1 leading off the inning. A double by Drew Romo put a man in scoring position and he moved up with a sacrifice bunt by Sam Antonacci. Seattle intentionally walked Munetaka Murakami to take their chances with Miguel Vargas. A fly ball to shallow left was caught by Randy Arozarena but Chicago tried to take the lead. Randy’s throw was way offline which allowed Romo to score as Seattle had blown the lead and trailed 2-1.

Seranthony Domínguez was on to try to close things out for Chicago and made quick work of Randy Arozarena with a strikeout. Connor Joe made things difficult with a single followed by a base hit by J.P. Crawford to put runners on first and second with one out. With a threat mounting, Seattle would load the bases on a walk by Rob Refsnyder for Cole Young to come to the plate with bases loaded. His pop fly wouldn’t be deep enough as it was caught in shallow left center by shortstop Colson Montgomery. Down to their last out, Brendan Donovan came to the plate but could not get the big hit. A grounder to first ended it as missed opportunities cost the Mariners as they dropped the finale and the series to the White Sox, 2-1.

Notable Performances

Mariners

White Sox

• Davis Martin (ND)- 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 SO
• Randal Grichuk- 1-3, HR, RBI, R
• Miguel Vargas- 1-3, 2B, RBI

Roster Moves

• 3B Brendan Donovan activated from 10-day IL
• C Jhonny Pereda optioned to Triple-A Tacoma
• LHP Jose A. Ferrer placed on Paternity List
• RHP Domingo González recalled from Triple-A Tacoma

What’s Next

Seattle (19-22) could not build momentum after a series win over Atlanta as their seven-game road trip begins with a series loss to Chicago. The Mariners fell back to third place in the AL West, 2 1/2 games back of the A’s while the Rangers are in second at two games back. Houston and Los Angeles are tied at the bottom of the division, 5 1/2 games out. The Athletics won two out of three in Baltimore and now head home for three with the Cardinals. Texas took two of three from the red hot Chicago Cubs and now host Arizona for three. The Angels would drop their series in Toronto and will visit Cleveland for three.

Next up for Seattle is a four-game series in Houston to end their road trip. The Astros (16-25) are coming off of a series loss in Cincinnati and have won just one of their last four series. This is the second four-game series between Seattle and Houston this season with the Mariners sweeping the four games in Seattle back in April. Dating back to last season, the Mariners have won seven in a row against Houston. While the bats have been very good for the Astros this season, pitching injuries have really hurt them as they will get Tatsuya Imai back for this series but are still missing Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier, and closer Josh Hader.

While Houston has allowed the most runs in the American League this season at 230, they have also scored the second most in the AL this season at 196. Yordan Alvarez is the biggest reason for that, but we already highlighted him for the last series. This time around we will look at the resurgence of Christian Walker. After signing a three-year, $60 million contract before the 2025 season, Walker had a major flop in his first season in Houston with one of his worst offensive seasons in his career. This season, Christian Walker is back to being a dangerous bat at first base. He has an OPS of .877 with nine home runs and 27 runs batted in. He has cut way down on the strikeouts with just 30 in 149 at bats as compared to 177 in 585 ABs last season. That is a strikeout rate of 20% compared to his 30% last season. With injuries to Jeremy Peña and Carlos Correa, the big bats like Alvarez and Walker have to continue to provide thump in the middle of that lineup.

• Game 1, Monday 5:10pm- George Kirby (4-2, 2.94 ERA) vs. Peter Lambert (2-2, 2.42 ERA)
• Game 2, Tuesday 5:10pm- Bryan Woo (2-2, 4.02 ERA) vs. Tatsuya Imai (1-0, 7.27 ERA)
• Game 3, Wednesday 5:10pm- Bryce Miller (Season Debut) vs. Lance McCullers Jr. (2-3, 7.41 ERA)
• Game 4, Thursday 11:10am- Luis Castillo (0-4, 6.57 ERA) vs. Mike Burrows (2-4, 5.04 ERA)

Mariners Minor League Update

This will be a new segment each week to update what is going on in the Seattle minor league system. We will continuously give scores for each team but will also highlight some of the key players that have had strong series.

Tacoma Rainiers (Lost Series @ El Paso Chihuahuas, L 10-9, L 11-10, L 4-1, W 17-2, W 6-3, L 11-6)

Hitter of the Series

Brennen Davis, OF- 12-23, 5 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 8 R, 4 BB

Pitcher of the Series

Nick Hull, RHP- 3.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO

Arkansas Travelers (Won Series vs. Tulsa Drillers, W 11-7, W 9-4, W 5-1, L 5-0, L 4-2, W 8-6)

Hitter of the Series

Michael Arroyo, SS- 10-25, 2B, 5 RBI, 2 R, BB, SB

Pitcher of the Series

Kade Anderson, LHP- 5.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 SO

Everett AquaSox (Won Series vs. Hillsboro Hops, W 8-6, W 10-0, W 5-4, W 8-1, W 15-1, L 8-5)

Hitter of the Series

Felnin Celesten, SS- 10-20, 2 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 7 R, 2 BB, SB

Pitcher of the Series

Colton Shaw, RHP- 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO

Inland Empire 66ers (Won Series vs. Lake Elsinore Storm, W 8-6, W 3-2, W 4-1, L 4-1, L 8-6, W 5-4)

Hitter of the Series

Dervy Ventura, INF- 6-20, 4 RBI, 3 R, 6 BB, 4 SB

Pitcher of the Series

Jackson Steensma, RHP- 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO

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