Offense Goes Quiet As Mariners fall 2-1 To The Athletics In Extra Innings
By Brittany Wisner, edited by Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA - On one of the warmest nights of the year, the Mariners pushed the Athletics into extra innings but couldn’t find the clutch hit, falling 2-1 to Sacramento in a low-scoring battle.
Pregame frames ahead of the Seattle Mariners 2-1 loss to the Athletics on Saturday, August 23rd, 2025 at T-Mobile Park. (Photos by Kevin Ng for Circling Seattle Sports)
Seattle’s offense remained cold at the plate despite the 84 degree day, managing just three hits as their struggles against left-handed pitching continued. A’s starter Jeffrey Springs was dominant, allowing only one hit through five innings before Randy Arozarena scored Seattle’s first and only run of the night with a solo home run in the sixth.
Seattle Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena hits a solo home run in his teams loss to the Athletics on Saturday, August 23rd, 2025 at T-Mobile Park. (Photos by Kevin Ng for Circling Seattle Sports)
George Kirby turned in another solid outing, going six innings and allowing just one run on four hits. After giving up a double to Jacob Wilson and a RBI single to Darell Hernaiz in the fourth to give Sacramento an early lead, Kirby settled in and delivered his ninth quality start of the season.
Despite the strong outings from Kirby and the bullpen, the Mariners couldn’t get the offense going – a somewhat ironic contrast to the offense-heavy identity the team seemed to be forming post-deadline.
The Seattle Mariners pitching staff of George Kirby, Gabe Speier, Eduard Bazardo, Andrés Muñoz, and Caleb Ferguson combined to surrender just two runs to the Athletics on on Saturday, August 23rd, 2025 at T-Mobile Park. (Photos by Kevin Ng for Circling Seattle Sports)
Tied 1-1 going into the 10th, the A’s scored one run thanks to a Shea Langeliers double to score the ghost runner from second base. Seattle had runners on first and second with no outs in the bottom of the inning, but Victor Robles popped up the first pitch of his at bat on a bunt attempt and J.P. Crawford grounded into a fielder’s choice. After Cole Young drew a walk to load the bases, Arozarena rolled over a fastball to third baseman Brett Harris to end the game.
With the loss, the Mariners fall three games back of the Astros in the AL West.
Quick Mariners notes, from Mariners PR
36,524 was the announced paid attendance at T-Mobile Park for game two of three between the visiting Athletics and our Seattle Mariners in this weekend series.
Series attendance through two games: 73,482
Game one: 36,958
Game two: 36,524
“Sockeye” the Salmon won tonight’s Mariners “Salmon Run,” as Humpy continues to flop.
2025 standings, so far
King the Salmon: 26 wins
Sockeye the Salmon: 20 wins
Silver the Salmon: 18 wins
Humpy the Salmon: 0 wins
The Red Oh Boy Oberto Beef Jerky boat won tonight’s Mariners “Hydro Challenge,” picking the right ramp at the end to secure the victory.
2025 standings, so far
Red boat: 22 wins
Green boat: 21 wins
Yellow boat: 20 wins
The season series between the two teams is now tied 6-6 heading into the final game tomorrow, including 3-3 at T-Mobile Park this season…the Mariners have won each of the last 4 consecutive season series against the A’s since 2021.
Despite the loss, they are still 10-2 at T-Mobile Park dating back to the start of the last homestand (7/31-c) and are 16-5 across their last 21 home games since July 4.
The Mariners played in their 19th extra-inning game this season which is tied with Boston for the most extra-inning games in MLB this season.
Randy Arozarena hit a game-tying solo home run in the 6th inning…it marked his 24th home run of the season which sets a new single-season career-high mark (previously: 23 HR in 2023 w/ TB).
Josh Naylor went 1-for-3 with a single and drew a walk…he is batting .333 (12x36) with 7 runs, 3 doubles, 4 home runs, 7 RBI, 7 stolen bases and 4 walks in 11 home games with Seattle this season.
Victor Robles went 1-for-4 with a stolen base, his 4th stolen base of the season…with his base-hit in the 7th inning, he also extended his hitting streak to 9-consecutive games, tying a career-high mark (also: 9 G, 7/6-19/19 w/ WSH).
He started tonight’s game in right field and made his first appearance with Seattle since April 6 at San Francisco after landing on the Injured List with left shoulder dislocation…Robles missed 119 games with the Mariners during his IL stint.
Starter George Kirby tossed 6.0 innings, allowing 1 run on 4 hits and 3 walks with 3 strikeouts in his 17th start of the season…he threw 98 pitches (57 strikes).
It marked his 9th quality start of the season and his 5th in his last 6 starts (7/26-c).
Over his last 2 home starts against the Athletics (also: 7/2/22), he has allowed a combined 2 runs across 13.0 innings with 12 strikeouts.
Across 37 starts against AL West rivals, Kirby holds a 2.63 career ERA (63 ER, 216.0 IP) with 32 walks to 214 strikeouts…he also improves to a 3.14 ERA (10 ER, 28.2 IP) across 5 starts against the AL West this season.
The bullpen (Gabe Speier, Eduard Bazardo, Andrés Muñoz, and Caleb Ferguson) combined for 4.0 innings of relief and allowed 1 run (unearned in the 10th inning) on 1 hit with 2 walks allowed…they struck out 4 of the first 9 batters faced.
Speier struck out 2 of 3 batters faced in the 7th inning…across his last 17 appearances (7/18-c), Speier owns a 0.73 ERA (1 ER, 12.1 IP) with 13 strikeouts and 1 walk…he has also recorded 2+ strikeouts in 21 of his 59 appearances out of the pen this season.
Muñoz struck out 2 of 3 batters faced and has struck out 2+ batters in 19 of his 50 appearances this season…he also has 35 strikeouts across 25.0 innings pitched at home this season.
Tonight’s temperature of 84° marked the hottest game time temp. at T-Mobile Park since July 15, 2023 vs. DET (also 84°)…it’s the hottest temp. this late into the year since it was 84° on Sept. 4, 2017 vs. HOU.
What’s next?
Following tonight’s loss in game two of this three-game weekend series against the Athletics, who belong in Oakland, our Seattle Mariners look to win a game, win a series when they battle the A’s tomorrow in a Sunday matinee game. The Athletics and Mariners will square off in a rubber match tomorrow, Sunday, August 24th, with a first pitch time of 1:10PM PDT
Seattle will face another challenging left-handed pitcher on Sunday as the Athletics send Jacob Lopez to the mound. Lopez is 7-6 on the year with a 3.28 ERA.