Different day, same story. For the second straight game, the Mariners were a no-show in the American League Championship Series, as Toronto won Game 4 comfortably, 8-2, to even the series, 2-2. Here are five takeaways from Game 4 of the ALCS.
IT’S OFFICIALLY GOING BACK TO TORONTO
After Game 5 in Seattle on Friday, that is. After taking a 2-0 lead, Seattle built itself a nice cushion, allowing itself the luxury of being able to drop a game at home and still close out the series by winning two out of three. After dropping Games 3 and 4 at home, that’s no longer in the cards. Seattle will travel back to Toronto for Game 6 on Sunday and if necessary, Game 7 will take place on Monday on the road. Buckle up, M’s fans.
THIRD INNING A HOUSE OF HORRORS FOR SEATTLE STARTING PITCHING
It was a George Kirby meltdown in the third inning of Game 3 on Wednesday. On Thursday, Mariners starter Luis Castillo withered, giving up a two-run home run to nine-hole hitter Andres Gimenez before issuing a pair of singles and a walk to load the bases. That would be it for Castillo, who was pulled by Seattle manager Dan Wilson with one out in the third. Unlike in Game 3, Seattle was able to stop the bleeding this time around, thanks to lefty reliever Gabe Speier, who allowed a run to score on a walk before shutting the door with back-to-back strikeouts, keeping Seattle within two runs. But it didn’t matter — the Mariners wouldn’t get any closer.
MAX SCHERZER STILL HAS SOMETHING LEFT IN THE TANK
He’s a future first ballot Hall of Famer, but the 41-year-old isn’t in his prime anymore. Scherzer had a 5.19 ERA this season coming into the game and had given up four or more earned runs in four of his past five starts. But outside of giving up a solo home run to Josh Naylor in the second inning, Scherzer fared just fine against Seattle’s lineup in Game 4, allowing just three hits, two runs, four walks and striking out five over 5 2/3 innings.
SLEEPY BATS IN SEATTLE
Seattle managed just five hits, was outscored by six runs and for the second game in a row, scored under five runs. Seattle has scored just seven runs over the past 20 innings. The top of the lineup was nowhere to be found on Thursday: Randy Arozarena, Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez and Jorge Polanco went hitless, going a combined 0-for-12. Seattle isn’t going to keep Toronto’s loaded lineup off the scoreboard consistently, so if the Mariners have any hope of taking Game 5 on Friday before heading back to Toronto, Dan Wilson is going to need to see more from his lineup.
GAME 5 FEELS LIKE A MUST-WIN GAME
Sure, technically there’s no “must-win” game until facing elimination, but if Seattle drops all three games at home and heads back to Toronto on the brink of elimination with zero momentum, that’s a tall order. Are the Mariners capable of spoiling the party and winning Games 6 and 7 in Toronto? Sure, but the odds become long and the margin for error becomes miniscule. Game 5 is suddenly massive.
