KCHW Staff Reports

The Seattle Mariners entered a pivotal 12-game stretch on Tuesday night looking to build momentum heading into the All-Star break. But a 35-minute rain delay, a faltering bullpen, and a potent Yankees lineup combined to derail their plans in a lopsided 10-3 loss at Yankee Stadium.

Seattle had won 15 of its last 23 games coming in, stabilizing its position in the playoff race. But this next stretch—12 straight games against postseason-bound teams—will determine whether the Mariners remain contenders or slip behind. The rough start in New York didn’t inspire much confidence.

Logan Gilbert looked dominant early, retiring 11 of the first 12 batters and baffling hitters with a sharp mix of fastballs, splitters, sliders, and curveballs. He struck out Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton with back-to-back splitters, showcasing some of his best stuff since returning from the injured list. But the rain delay threw everything off.

Following the stoppage, Gilbert’s command and velocity faltered. He allowed five runs over his final two innings of work, including a three-run homer to Stanton in the sixth that broke the game open.

The Yankees capitalized, launching three home runs—Stanton’s three-run blast, a two-run shot from Austin Wells off reliever Casey Legumina, and another from Judge in the eighth. Legumina gave up five runs in his lone inning of relief.

Seattle’s offense, meanwhile, was silent until the eighth inning, when Cal Raleigh connected for his 36th home run of the season. That solo shot set a new franchise record for home runs before the All-Star break, surpassing Ken Griffey Jr.’s 35 in 1998.

Raleigh also became the first catcher—and just the fourth player since 1933—to reach at least 36 home runs and 75 RBIs before the All-Star break. The others? Reggie Jackson, Mark McGwire, and Chris Davis.

Unfortunately, his milestone came in an otherwise forgettable game, as thunder and lightning outside the stadium were matched by an offensive storm inside from the Yankees.

Seattle has five more games before the break—two more in New York, then a weekend series in Detroit—before returning home to face Houston and Milwaukee. If Tuesday’s performance is any indication, the Mariners will need sharper pitching and more timely hitting to survive this crucial stretch.

The Mariners fall to 48-43 and will send George Kirby to the mound Wednesday as they look to even the series.