Mariners Lose 7-6 in 11 Innings to A’s as Bryce Miller Struggles and Streak Ends
The Seattle Mariners have been on a strong run lately, bouncing back from every loss with a win for nearly a month. But that impressive pattern finally ended Monday night when they dropped a hard-fought 7-6 game to the Oakland Athletics in 11 innings. This marked the first time since early April that the Mariners have lost back-to-back games.
It was a game full of twists, missed chances, and a few flashes of hope. While the Mariners showed resilience, they couldn’t quite pull it off in a matchup that felt more like a minor league test than a major league showdown.
What Went Wrong in Extra Innings?
Seattle seemed on the verge of another comeback win when Cal Raleigh made a bold move in the top of the 10th. After Miles Mastrobuoni lifted a fly ball to left field, Raleigh tagged up from third and scored, giving the Mariners a 6-5 lead. But that spark didn’t last.
On the first pitch in the bottom of the 10th, A’s shortstop Jacob Wilson tied the game with a single that brought JJ Bleday home. That hit was the first run of any kind allowed by Mariners closer Andrés Muñoz this season in his 17th appearance.
Muñoz found himself in a tough spot after walking Nick Kurtz and allowing Luis Urías to reach on catcher’s interference. But he regained control at the perfect time. He struck out Lawrence Butler looking, battled from behind in the count to fan Brent Rooker, and froze Tyler Soderstrom for the final out of the inning.
In the top of the 11th, the Mariners couldn’t find any offense. And in the bottom half, Wilson again delivered. His second RBI single of the game brought in the winning run against reliever Casey Legumina.
Is Bryce Miller Losing His Edge?
The Mariners were also left facing hard questions about starter Bryce Miller’s performance. Once seen as a rising force in Seattle’s rotation, Miller has yet to look fully in sync this season. Something seems to be off each outing—be it control issues, a dip in velocity, or nagging soreness in his back or arm.
Against the A’s, Miller’s biggest challenge was finishing batters. Time and again, he got ahead in the count, only to let hitters slip away. In total, six of the 20 batters he faced reached base with two strikes against them.
Rooker got hit by a pitch, Soderstrom singled, and Andújar’s sacrifice fly—all with two strikes—helped the A’s take early control. Then Bleday doubled on a full count, and Wilson brought him in with another two-strike single. Even the home run Miller gave up to Langeliers in the fourth came on a 1-2 pitch.
Miller finished only four innings, throwing 94 pitches and recording just one strikeout. That lone punchout came on a splitter that Bleday chased in the fourth. It was Miller’s shortest start of the season and one of just eight times in his career he’s failed to pitch into the fifth.
It’s clear Miller isn’t quite right. Whether it’s physical or mechanical, something’s missing from the pitcher who could once dominate hitters with his fastball and confidence.
Relief and Offense: A Mixed Bag
Carlos Vargas gave the Mariners two clean innings out of the bullpen, but Collin Snider couldn’t hold the tie in the seventh. A Rooker double and Langeliers sacrifice fly gave the A’s a 5-4 lead.
Still, the Mariners showed life at the plate—especially from the bottom of the order. Rookie Ben Williamson had two key hits, both with two outs. Neither ball was smoked, but both were perfectly placed. His third-inning RBI single had an exit velocity of just 68.5 mph and capped a four-run frame. His eighth-inning bloop single floated at just 65.5 mph and landed in shallow right, scoring Raleigh to tie the game at 5-5.
Seattle’s third inning rally was all about two-out hitting. Jorge Polanco started things with an RBI single, followed by Rowdy Tellez’s double, Mastrobuoni’s RBI knock, and then Williamson’s single.
But after tying the game in the eighth, the Mariners missed a big chance to take the lead. Leo Rivas flied out to center, ending the threat. Then in the ninth, J.P. Crawford and Julio Rodríguez worked walks against A’s flame-throwing reliever Mason Miller. Raleigh fought hard in a long at-bat, fouling off pitch after pitch. But Miller finally got him on a slider to escape the jam.
Can the Mariners Bounce Back in Game 2? What Needs to Change with Bryce Miller’s Pitching?
Let’s see how they answer those questions when they take the field again in Oakland.
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