Through four innings, Seattle led by five. Losing the game wasn’t a consideration, as a young Mariners team looked to play add-on.
But runs only mean so much when the other team won’t go away. And when Yusei Kikuchi was inevitably removed from the game after six innings of work, Seattle would have to bank on a shaky bullpen, clumped together last-minute after a flurry of trades sent their best relievers packing.
This was supposed to be an article based on excitement for fresher, younger Mariners team, slugging their way past Boston consecutive nights. But my fear became reality, as the bullpen would succumb to the defending world champions.