Missed Chances Cost Mariners in 6-5 Loss to Padres

PEORIA, Ariz. — The ACL Mariners (32-23) built an early three-run advantage but were unable to capitalize on several late scoring opportunities, falling 6-5 to the ACL Padres (30-24) Thursday evening on the Padres side of the Peoria Sports Complex. The loss marked Seattle’s third defeat to San Diego in their last four meetings.

Seattle jumped on Padres starter Adler Cecil early. Diego Contreras opened the game with a single and advanced to third on a wild pitch and Yorger Bautista’s walk, but the Mariners stranded the runners after Leandro Romero struck out and Dalton Davis popped out. They broke through an inning later when Sebastian De Andrade launched a two-run homer to left-center, his third of the season, after Kelvin Alcantara was hit by a pitch. Bautista added to the lead in the third with his eighth home run of the year, giving the Mariners a 3-0 cushion.

Making his second start of the season, Harrison Kreiling gave the Mariners exactly the start they were looking for through two innings, retiring the first six Padres hitters while striking out four. The right-hander attacked the zone early and showed swing-and-miss stuff before San Diego broke through in the third. Luis De Leon singled and later scored on Jhoan De La Cruz’s two-run homer, trimming Seattle’s led to one. Kreiling finished his outing after 2 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on two hits while striking out four.

The Mariners responded in the bottom of the fourth. Bryant Mendez worked a walk, advanced on a pickoff error and scored on Diego Contreras’ sacrifice fly before Nick Becker stole third and came home on a wild pitch, extending Seattle’s lead back to 5-2.

San Diego answered once again in the fourth. Ty Harvey led off the inning with a solo homer before a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt helped spark another rally. Dylan Wilson entered in relief, but the Padres tied the game on an RBI single by Jhojan Downer and took the lead when Eddson Martinez lifted a sacrifice fly, making it 6-5.

Seattle had opportunities to answer but couldn’t deliver the decisive hit. In the fifth, Dalton Davis doubled and Kelvin Alcantara followed with an RBI double to pull the Mariners within one, but the inning ended on a double play with runners aboard.

The Mariners’ best chance came in the ninth. Alcantara and Contreras drew walks before Martin Gonzalez loaded the bases with another free pass. However, Sebastian De Andrade struck out and pinch-hitter Dalton Davis was retired on a foul tip to end the game, leaving the tying and winning runs stranded.

Alcantara finished 1-for-3 with a double, a home run, two RBI and two walks. Bautista went 1-for-3 with a homer, RBI and a walk, while De Andrade collected a home run and two RBI. Davis added his 13th double of the season.

Wilson (2-2) was charged with the loss after allowing four runs, two earned, over three innings. Despite the defeat, Seattle’s bullpen settled in after the fourth inning, with Wilson and Wuilliams Rodriguez combining to keep the Padres scoreless over the final three frames.

The Mariners will look to bounce back Friday when they host the ACL Rockies at the Peoria Sports Complex.

POSTGAME NOTES

• Seattle has dropped three of its last four meetings against the ACL Padres.
• Sebastian De Andrade hit his third home run of the season and drove in two runs.
• Yorger Bautista hit his eighth home run of the season.
• Kelvin Alcantara recorded his eighth double and finished with two RBI.
• Harrison Kreiling struck out four over 2 2/3 innings in his second start of the season.
• The Mariners left the bases loaded in the ninth inning and finished 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position.