The Mariners hosted the Cubs for the first time since 2013 on Tuesday night. Kris Bryant served as designated hitter due to hamstring tightness while David Bote got the start at third base. Cole Hamels took the mound against Felix Hernandez in a battle of veteran pitchers.
Going into the game, the key to success for Hamels was to limit his walks, having issued six free passes in a no-decision in his last start. When Hamels got into a few jams in the 4th and 6th innings, it wasn’t the walks that hurt him but the six hits and the two errors by the defense behind him.