Mariners Game #87: 7/2/24, BAL at SEA

So you like pitching, eh?

The Mariners weren’t able to capture their at-home magic against the Twins this weekend, disappointing three near-sellout crowds with a paltry offensive showing and their fourth consecutive series loss. The AL West lead is slipping away, and things won’t get any easier with the AL East-leading homer-happy Orioles in town.

Lineups:

The Mariners have shaken up their lineup significantly today, moving their more productive hitters of late into the top part of the lineup. Ty France is hitting second and Luke Raley is hitting third; Julio drops into seventh. Mitch Garver remains out of the lineup after being hit by a pitch in Sunday’s game.

[Lucille Bluth voice] I don’t understand the image and I won’t respond to it.

News:

As insurance in case Garver experiences more pain in his wrist, the Mariners recalled C Seby Zavala from Tacoma today. They also signed RHP Chris Devenski, last seen getting blown up by the Mariners in Tampa Bay, to an MLB deal and sent him to Tacoma. Full details here.

Today’s game information:

Game time: 6:40 PT

TV: ROOT Sports NW, with Dave Sims, Mike Blowers, and Dan Wilson on the call

Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports, with Rick Rizzs and Aaron Goldsmith

Today in Mariners history:

• 1979: The first-ever Mariner wins an AL Player of the Month award: 3B Dan Meyer is named AL Player of the Month for June after hitting .369 for the month and hitting in a club-record 21 straight games from June 9-30.
• 1997: Jeff Fassero lays down a bunt single against San Francisco to log the first ever hit by a Mariners pitcher.
• 2012: The Mariners started three Japanese players (Iwakuma-P, Kawasaki-2B, Ichiro-RF), the first time in MLB history three Japan-born players have been in a starting lineup. The Mariners defeated the Orioles 6-3 behind a three-run double by Casper Wells in the 7th inning, erasing a 3-1 deficit. Miguel Olivo and Dustin Ackley hit back-to-back home runs in the 8th inning.
• 2022: George Kirby strikes out nine A’s and gives up just one run over seven innings but gets no support from his offense until Justin Upton hits a pinch-hit homer in the eighth and Abraham Toro walks it off with a single in the ninth.