The Seattle Mariners and the Baltimore Orioles locked horns once again on Tuesday night at Safeco Field. The second game of their three-game series saw Seattle ace Felix Hernandez falter, the Mariners nearly get no-hit, an unexpected comeback and unfortunately, an eventual 5-4 loss for the home team.
The game was a tense pitchers' duel in the early going, with Hernandez only allowing three hits heading into the sixth inning and Baltimore starter Wei-Yin Chen not yet allowing a Seattle baserunner. Unfortunately, things fell apart for Hernandez in the sixth inning, as he allowed four straight singles, giving the Orioles a 2-0 lead. After recording a groundout, Hernandez gave up another two-run single that made it 4-0 Baltimore and knocked King Felix out of the game.
Chen was cruising and the Mariners entered the seventh inning just nine outs away from being on the losing end of a perfect game for the second time this year. With one out in the seventh, Kyle Seager hit his third home run of the season to left field to break up the perfect game, the no-hitter and the shutout.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Mariners climbed back into it. Justin Smoak and John Jaso each hit RBI singles to make it 4-3 and Seager drew a bases-loaded, two-out walk to tie things up. Unfortunately, the Orioles struck once again in the top of the ninth, as Robert Andino hit a two-out home run off of Charlie Furbush for what would prove to be the game-winner.
A rough loss for the Mariners, but their resilience in the final three innings is definitely something that will allow them to hold their heads up high heading into the series finale on Wednesday, where they will try to pick up the series win in the rubber game.
For all news and information regarding the Seattle Mariners, please visit Lookout Landing. For updates and perspective on the Baltimore Orioles, head on over to Camden Chat or check out SB Nation DC.
