The Mariners took a series in Boston on Wednesday with a solid 8-3 win, marking Bryce Miller’s first start back on the mound since his no-good, very-bad week. The offense, which we haven’t seen much of in 2026, strung together 12 hits and five walks, applying constant pressure that Red Sox pitchers simply couldn’t handle. It was a crucial win that somehow, someway salvaged the road trip for our M’s.
Miller Steps Back Onto The Mound With Caution
Miller’s return was highly anticipated, especially after being demoted to the bullpen last week. He never actually appeared in a game as a reliever, thanks to Emerson Hancock getting hurt shortly after the decision, which allowed Miller to slot back into the rotation after nine full days of much-needed rest. If anybody on the team needed a break, it was probably Miller, whose last two starts ended 22-0 and 19-2.
The Mariners’ management had to be careful with Miller after acknowledging he wasn’t holding up as a true starter. We kind of got an answer on Wednesday: Dan Wilson pulled Miller at just 65 pitches in the middle of the fifth inning, even though the team held a 4-1 lead. This start looked more like his abbreviated outings from May. Miller was in trouble from the jump, putting runners on with back-to-back singles in the first. It looked like the Red Sox would score on a third single, but the defense came up firing and caught Mickey Gasper at the plate with a nice tag.
The Bats Break Through, And Defense Holds Strong
Miller set down the side in order in the second and easily worked around a single in the third. But the fourth presented another challenge: Wilyer Abreu doubled off the Monster to lead off. Miller got an out, walked a batter, got another out, then gave up a dinky ground rule double to score a run. This was a make-or-break moment for Miller, and he chose to completely break Connor Wong’s brain with a sweeper way out of the zone for a swinging strike three.
He returned for the fifth to face the top of the order a third time. Roman Anthony singled to lead off. Gasper then hit a little flare that nearly landed for a hit, if not for a second Gasper-thwarting gem of the day from the defense, a diving-ish effort that left a player breathless for a few beats. Miller got the second out in the fifth with a grounder, then Wilson came out to get him. The decision made sense, given Miller has really struggled in the middle innings and later. Meanwhile, our offense was relentless, putting up runs when it mattered.
The M’s somehow, someway salvaged their road trip, and now they’re heading home with a shiny 2-0 record in September. We’re looking forward to seeing if this momentum, and Miller’s continued recovery, is something they can build on at T-Mobile Park.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Lookout Landing.
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