The Mariners pitchers and hitters were unable to come through in the most high-pressure moments of the game Monday.
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Seattle Mariners were unable to come through in the most crucial moments of a game Monday against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium, a contest the Mariners ultimately dropped 6-4.
"I thought we came out exactly the way we wanted to," Seattle manager Dan Wilson said in a postgame interview Monday. "Put up some good at-bats early on. ... Just not able to amount enough offense tonight. Thought we had some opportunities with traffic, just weren't able to convert."
On offense, the Mariners found several openings against Angels starting pitcher Reid Detmers.
Seattle found its first opening in the first inning. Shortstop J.P. Crawford reached via a lead-off single and was waved home on a double hit by left fielder Randy Arozarena.
Crawford was beat out on the tag from home and was ruled out. The Mariners ultimately didn't score until the top of the fourth, when it was already at a deficit.
After back-to-back singles to start the inning from Arozarena and right fielder Dominic Canzone, catcher Cal Raleigh hit a three-run homer to right field to cut Seattle's deficit to 4-3.
Detmers recorded two successive outs after Raleigh's homer before designated hitter Michael Arroyo hit a single and stole second to give the Mariners the chance to tie the game. He was left stranded after second baseman Cole Young struck out swinging.
Seattle's final run of the game came via another homer — a solo shot hit to right field by Crawford in the top of the seventh that resulted in the eventual final of 6-4.
The Mariners had an opportunity to tie the game or take the lead in the top of the ninth inning. Pinch-hitters Lazaro Montes and Taylor Ward both drew walks after lengthy at bats to set Seattle up with runners at first and second with two outs. Both were left on base after Crawford lined out to Los Angeles first baseman Vaugh Grissom.
Seattle finished the game 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and stranded six.
"(Detmers) had the slider going early," Raleigh said after the game. "We were able to create some traffic in the big inning there, just couldn't do any more after that. I thought the second time through, third time through was a little better. ... Just got to be able to get that run in (in the first)."
On the pitching side, Mariners rookie starting pitcher Kade Anderson continued to go through the growing pains of major league baseball.
Seattle fell behind 2-0 in the bottom of the first after Angels center fielder Jose Siri hit an RBI double and was brought home on a sacrifice fly hit by Grissom.
That deficit extended to 4-0 in the bottom of the third after shortstop Zach Neto hit an RBI triple and Siri had an RBI single.
Anderson was pulled from the game with a line of 4.1 innings pitched, five strikeouts and five earned runs on seven hits.
Anderson was pulled with a runner on first and one out, which ended up being attributed to him after Los Angeles cashed in with the bases loaded and two outs. Third baseman Denzer Guzman hit a two-RBI single to bolster the Angels' lead to 6-3.
"Just execution," Anderson said after the game. "Got to do a better job. ... I think it was just an ongoing process of adjusting. Obviously didn't have it tonight but always work to be done."
The Mariners fell to 70-81 on the season, 5.5 games out of first place in the American League West and six games out of the final wild card spot in the American League.
Seattle will look to even the series against Los Angeles in the second of the three-game set at 6:38 p.m. PT on Tuesday at Angel Stadium.
Logan Gilbert will start for the Mariners and Ryan Johnson will start for the Angels.
