CHICAGO -- Luis Castillo’s seven-inning gem Monday night kept the Mariners in a position to win long enough for the offense to pull away from the White Sox late.
Despite another strong overall pitching performance Tuesday night, though, Seattle’s hitters didn’t have another last-second outburst in them, falling to Chicago, 1-0, to knot up the series at Rate Field.
“You got to tip your cap,” manager Dan Wilson said. “I thought [White Sox starter Adrian] Houser threw the ball very well. Made some good pitches when he had to. There was a lot of contact. We got some traffic, just weren't able to get in.”
The Mariners hardly put any pressure on the White Sox’ pitchers for most of the night. They managed two hits and drew three walks through the first seven innings, getting only a single runner into scoring position in that time.
Seattle then nearly broke through in the eighth. Leody Taveras led off with a double against White Sox right-hander Steven Wilson, and Leo Rivas (pinch-hitting for Ben Williamson) got hit by a pitch two batters later. Following a pitching change to Sox left-hander Cam Booser, J.P. Crawford drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases with one out.
For really the first time all night, the Mariners were in prime position to cash in. However, pinch-hitter Mitch Garver took a called strike three for out No. 2, and Julio Rodríguez flied out to center field to halt the late rally.
It was a tough day at the plate for an offense that has looked strong for a majority of the season. Seattle entered Friday ranked in the top half of the Majors in a number of offensive categories, including wRC+ (115, sixth), OPS (.725, 10th), runs scored (221, 11th), home runs (63, sixth) and walk rate (10.2 percent, second).
Perhaps Chicago not officially signing Houser until Tuesday, then tabbing him to take the start, played a part in Tuesday’s struggles. The wet, cold conditions -- which caused a 1 hour, 35 minute delay of first pitch -- probably didn’t help.
The Mariners didn’t use any of that as an excuse, though. Crawford said he didn’t think the late switch to start Houser played any part in the offense’s quiet night, saying, “He just came up attacking us and kept us just a little bit off balance.”
Regarding the conditions, he said he imagined it was 75 degrees and sunny the whole game and tried “to get the best out of every AB and just try to help your pitcher out of trouble when the ball comes to you.”
While Seattle’s offense was held scoreless for just the second time all season, the pitching staff continued its strong run over the last week. With the one-run effort Tuesday, the Mariners have held opponents to no more than one score in five straight contests and in six of their last seven ballgames.
Leading the charge was Casey Lawrence, who had his contract selected from Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday. After Casey Legumina got through a scoreless first, Lawrence took over and tossed five innings of one-run ball.
On a night when the offense was quiet early, he at least helped keep the team close enough to make things interesting late.
“I thought he pitched an outstanding ballgame,” Wilson said.
Lawrence, a 37-year-old righty who debuted in 2017, is now the sixth player to appear for Seattle in three separate stints. This is already his fourth different time being called up by the club this season, as the Mariners selected and then designated him for assignment three times in April.
After the last of those three, the Blue Jays claimed him off waivers, had him start one game and promptly DFA’d him to end the month; he returned to the Mariners organization on May 7 on a Minor League deal.
Lawrence’s pro baseball career has taught him to stay grounded, despite the twists and turns that have come with it. So regardless of how much longer this stint with Seattle lasts, he’s just looking to contribute when his name is called.
“It's one of those things where you just be where your feet are,” Lawrence said. “I have no idea, so I don't try to play GM or anything like that. I just go out there and take the ball whenever, wherever they want to give it to me and go out there and try and give the team the best chance to win. That's all you can do.”