A 4-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night at T-Mobile Park? Yeah, it snapped our three-game win streak, and that stings. But honestly, Emerald City, this was one of those rare losses you actually *enjoy* watching, especially with the heart the Mariners showed when it counted most. We nearly clawed our way back against their bullpen, and that elusive go-ahead hit was the only thing standing in the way of a different outcome.
Castillo and Burns Delivered the Heat
Let’s be real, facing the Reds meant seeing some familiar faces, and they came to play. Elly De La Cruz kicked things off immediately, battling Luis Castillo for an eight-pitch at-bat before turning on a heater for a line-drive homer to right-center. Then Eugenio Suárez, one of my all-time favorite Mariners, got a middle-middle fastball in the fourth and launched it to center field. You love to see it for the guy, even if it’s against us. Castillo, our former ace, was sharp, too. He gave up those two homers, but otherwise, he was pretty good, racking up 11 whiffs, including seven on his crispy 95 mph four-seamer. He attacked the zone and went seven innings, giving up just three runs. He even said his mentality was “going in, attacking the zone, and if they make contact, hopefully it’s an out,” which is a classic Big Maple mindset.
But the real showstopper on the mound for them was Chase Burns. That dude is *good*. We had low expectations going in, especially with Julio Rodríguez and J.P. Crawford both day-to-day with minor injuries, leading to a weird lineup. Burns proved why the Reds just gave him a big old contract. He absolutely dominated early with his fastball-slider combo, racking up six strikeouts. Dan Wilson said it perfectly after the game: “He’s kind of got that over the top thing, and getting comfortable to that and used to that, it makes a difference.” He explained how Burns’ high velo fastball and diving slider make him a “tough at-bat” because “you can’t cover both.” We couldn’t get much going against him early.
The Sixth Inning Rally That Sparked Hope
Even though Burns was carving, the Mariners did make him work. We drew a pair of walks and worked some deep counts, forcing him out after five innings. And that, my friends, opened the door for our comeback attempt against their bullpen. In the sixth, Dominic Canzone led off with a walk, then Josh Naylor followed up with a single, one of his three hits on the day. That brought Luke Raley to the plate, but Dan Wilson had another idea. He sent in Julio Rodríguez, who’d been nursing that minor injury on the bench, to pinch-hit.
And oh, did Julio deliver! He battled and battled, working a full count against seven straight sweepers from Tejay Antone. Then, he got an eighth sweeper and absolutely crushed it, a 110-mph one-hopper screaming near short. The fight, the grit, the sheer determination in that at-bat had T-Mobile Park absolutely buzzing.
The loss stings, no doubt, but that kind of fight, especially with key guys sidelined, shows the heart of this squad. We’re still early in the season, and seeing that kind of resilience, that willingness to battle back even when things look tough, tells you everything you need to know about what’s ahead. Get ready, Seattle, because if Tuesday night proved anything, it’s that this team isn’t backing down.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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