Matt Calkins: Why blowout loss to Astros shows Mariners aren't about to tumble

Matt Calkins, The Seattle Times on Jul 21, 2025

Published in Baseball

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SEATTLE — Don’t let that trouncing get you down if you’re a Mariners fan. Sunday’s 11-3 loss to the Houston Astros was the first drop of rain this otherwise sunkissed team has experienced in the past 10 days.

If the events since July 10 were a term paper, that defeat at the hands of Houston dropped the grade from an A+ to an A, but it still would have set the curve.

Since getting swept by the New York Yankees in the second week of July, the Mariners (53-46) have won five out of six games against two of the best teams in baseball. First a sweep against the Detroit Tigers (60-40) just before the All-Star break, then two out of three against the Astros (57-42) in the first series since the Midsummer Classic. Oh, and in between? Cal Raleigh endearing himself to the nation with his Home Run Derby win beside his father and kid brother.

This isn’t my cover letter for a Mariners PR job. This organization has offered plenty to criticize and will offer plenty more in the future. But right now the M’s are rolling — eight-run loss or not.

One thing that has stood out throughout the season is Seattle’s ability to rattle top-tier opposing pitchers right out of the game. And though it might not be much of a consolation now, it happened again Sunday.

Astros pitcher Hunter Brown entered the game with a 2.43 ERA and 115 strikeouts, both of which ranked seventh in MLB. The first-half effort earned the 26-year-old an All-Star bid. After four innings Sunday, however, he was gone — with the Mariners giving him three earned runs and six hits.

It was an auspicious start to an awful result, as Houston scored the next 11 runs — five of which came off fellow All-Star Bryan Woo. But the team that was supposed to struggle offensively this season once again chased off an ace.

The current favorite for the American League Cy Young Award is Tigers hurler Tarik Skubal. In his two starts against the Mariners, though? Three earned runs in 5 2/3 innings in Game 1 (April 2), then four earned runs in five innings in Game 2 (July 6).

Just behind Skubal in the AL Cy Young odds is Red Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet — whose 160 strikeouts lead MLB and whose 2.23 ERA leads the AL. In his lone start against Seattle last April? Four earned runs through five innings.

Over 91 innings this season, the Texas Rangers’ Nathan Eovaldi has posted a 1.58 ERA — which would lead MLB handily if he had the eight extra innings needed to qualify. But he gave up three runs in five innings in his first meeting with the Mariners, and three runs in three innings in his second.

Some might chalk this up to good fortune. Perhaps this column just jinxed that trend. But considering the M’s — who play in the most pitcher-friendly park in MLB — are eighth in the big leagues in runs and sixth in OPS, this is probably a lot more than coincidence.

“It’s awesome to show that we can be ourselves and play our game, even with those names that you’re talking about,” said Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez when asked about his team’s production against aces. “It just shows we’re really a good team. Put all those names together and take a look at how they have done across the league and what they have done against us. Hunter Brown is a really good pitcher and we got him out in four innings.”

This might not soothe some Mariners die-hards bemoaning the fact that, with a 3-0 lead and Woo on the hill, Seattle let an opportunity to sweep their division rival get away. So instead of sitting two games back of Houston in the AL West, they’re four back. But let’s be real: Any rational fan takes a 2-1 series win over the Astros rather than see what’s behind door No. 2.

It’s not going to get any easier for Seattle, as the scorching Brewers (59-40) are on the schedule for the next three days. That third game should feature 23-year-old sensation Jacob Misiorowski — who struck out 12 Dodgers in six innings in his last start — on the mound. Doubtful the Mariners are too worried about him, though.

With a game-and-a-half lead for the final wild-card spot, this team is in solid position and has been playing quality baseball. Sunday may have been rough — but the Mariners aren’t about to tumble.

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