The Los Angeles Dodgers fell 4-3 to the Seattle Mariners, which has them in danger of losing their first series this season. The Dodgers and Kansas City Royals are yet to suffer such fate this year, and prior to Monday, only L.A. had won all their series.
Seattle took an early on Jose Marmolejos’ line drive that had just enough carry to clear the fence in right field for a two-run home run in the first inning. Taylor Trammell’s solo homer in the second extended the Mariners’ lead to 3-0.
The Dodgers cut into their deficit between a two-out rally in the third inning that was sparked by a Mookie Betts double. Corey Seager jumped on the first pitch he saw from Justus Sheffield for a two-run homer to straightaway center.
Justin Turner kept the pressure on by following that with a double of his own, only for Will Smith to be called out on strikes. Smith disagreed with the call and while it wasn’t to the extent of series against the Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres, the Dodgers took umbrage with balls and strikes.
Dustin May settled into a nice rhythm after his early struggles but it was disrupted by Chris Taylor booting a routine chopper in the fourth inning. Rather than end the inning, it provided Trammell with an opportunity and he took advantage with an RBI double.
May’s night came to an end after five innings, and he tied a career high with eight strikeouts, which he has now done twice this season. Perhaps more notably was that each of those came on a breaking ball.
The Dodgers again cut into their deficit in the sixth inning when Zach McKinstry drove an RBI base hit into center field with two outs. That knocked Justus Sheffield out of the game and put what’s been a stout Mariners bullpen to the test.
After Betts and Seager reached with one out in the seventh inning, Turner struck out swinging and Dylan Moore robbed Smith of a game-tying RBI base hit by stretching out for a snow cone catch on a line drive that had an expected .620 batting average.
Kendall Graveman retired L.A. in order in the eighth inning and Rafael Montero worked around a walk and hit by pitch in the ninth to earn the save. While the Dodgers lost the game, more concern was with Betts taking a 95 mph sinker on the inside of his right forearm.
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