I guess it’s only natural to want a little more.  When things have been going so well, you’re on a nice little tear since the All Star Break, and you win the first two games in the series down in Texas, you hope to get over that hump and get the sweep!  Boy, a sweep would’ve been nice heading into the series in Kansas City.  Of course, at this point, wins are the most precious things we have; the Mariners need as many as they can get.

But, you’re not going to win too many games when you go 1 for 9 with RISP, and leave 9 runners on base.  I know Ariel Miranda gave up a whopping 3 homers, and 5 runs total in his 5.2 innings of work, but I think I have to blame Kyle Seager just as much for this loss.  Why single out one batter?  Well, the other two studs on this team – Cano & Cruz – got on base a combined 6 times.  If Seager had only shown up to play in this one – in a stadium he usually does well in – the Mariners almost certainly would’ve scored more than 1 run, and could’ve made a game out of it.

In the top of the first, with Andrew Cashner teetering, having already given up 1 run, with 2 more on and only 1 out, Seager lined out to center to help take him off the hook.  Then, in the top of the third, with two more on and two out, Seager lined out to left field to once again let him off the hook.  Finally, in the top of the eighth, with two on and nobody out, Seager lined out to center again.  If any of those line outs were homers, the Mariners would’ve been within 1 run.  If Seager has a night to remember, maybe the Mariners win that game.  I know there were other hitters with other chances to bring home runs, but those guys aren’t currently in the middle of a $100 million contract.  Not that I’m knocking it or anything, but I think it’s reasonable to expect more out of your $100 million guys.

Anyway, I checked out of this one after it was 5-1 and they had the rain delay.  Obviously, the offense was held in check the rest of the way.  On the plus side, they’ve got a bunch of old episodes of Cheers on Netflix, and I got to bed at my regular time.

I dunno, I should probably say something about Ariel Miranda, but he is who he is.  He came into this year as the team’s sixth starter, and that’s about what he is.  He’s definitely cooled off from that run he was on earlier this year, and sort of settled into this Whatever he’s become.  At least he’s still better than Wade Miley.

The Mariners will have Yovani Gallardo take the mound tonight and try to avoid falling right back to .500.  Then, it’s Paxton, Felix, and Erasmo the rest of the weekend, as the M’s try to overtake the Royals for the second Wild Card.  A 4-game sweep should almost certainly get the job done.  A 3-1 series win will put us right in the thick of it, percentagewise.  A 2-2 tie and we’re kissing our sister.  Anything worse than that is incest, and you know how I feel about that.