Fade continues
SEATTLE – The quest for a playoff berth isn’t officially over for the Seattle Mariners, but hope now lies only with those who rely on mathematical possibilities.
A 7-4 loss to the Oakland A’s at Safeco Field on Tuesday, when the Mariners overcame one three-run deficit to tie the score and then gave it all back, pushed them into a near impossible situation with 19 games remaining.
The Mariners, losing for the 15th time in 17 games, fell 9 1/2 games behind the first-place Angels in the A.L. West Division and 6 1/2 behind the Yankees in the wild-card standings.
Both the Angels and Yankees won Tuesday while the Mariners’ homestand of opportunity – against two losing teams, Oakland and Tampa Bay – already has cost them the first series.
“I don’t know what I can say that we haven’t already said,” manager John McLaren stated. “We need somebody to step to the plate and throw some zeroes on the board. We are getting frustrated, let’s be honest about it. We’re fighting through it, but it’s extremely difficult.”
It took two innings of A’s offense, aided again by the Mariners’ faltering pitching, to determine the M’s fate again.
Jarrod Washburn struggled with his control and pitched in trouble in all but one of his 5 2/3 innings, including a four-run fourth inning. Two of the Mariners’ young relievers, Eric O’Flaherty and Sean Green, couldn’t hold the A’s in a three-run sixth.
The Mariners’ offense against A’s left-hander Dallas Braden, who was 1-7 with a 6.63 ERA, consisted of Adrian Beltre’s solo home run in the third inning, a three-run rally in the fifth that tied the score 4-4, and frustration the rest of the night.
The M’s out-hit the A’s 11-10 and put runners in scoring position in the sixth and seventh inning without scoring. Raul Ibanez grounded out with runners on first and third to end the sixth and Yuniesky Betancourt struck out with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh.
Washburn gifted the A’s two of their runs, walking home two in the four-run fourth.
McLaren wasn’t around for the second walk. He complained from the dugout after Washburn walked Donny Murphy to force home the first run, and plate umpire Chris Guccione ejected him.
Washburn walked the next batter, Kurt Suzuki, to force in another run. Shannon Stewart singled with one out to drive in two runs, making the score 4-1.
The Mariners rallied in the fifth with three runs to tie the score, getting RBI singles by Ibanez and Kenji Johjima, plus an RBI grounder by Jose Vidro.
“I really thought we were going to win the game,” McLaren said.
Johjima was as responsible for the tying run as Vidro. He was forced out at second base but, as he slid into the bag, he held his arms high and was hit on the left wrist by Murphy’s throw to first.
Johjima, who rolled on the ground in pain before being escorted from the field, suffered a bruised wrist and his playing status is day to day.
Clearing the bases
White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen and the team agreed to a contract extension through the 2012 season. … Shortstop John McDonald and the Toronto Blue Jays agreed to a $3.8 million, two-year contract extension through the 2009 season. … Frank Coonelly, a top labor lawyer in the commissioner’s office, has been selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates to become their next team president, according to a source.