Brewers deal Mariners worst loss in franchise history

Tim Booth, The Seattle Times on Aug 18, 2026

Published in Baseball

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MILWAUKEE — The best team in baseball takes walks and singles. They steal bases. They get the ball into the outfield with a runner at third and less than two outs and when there are two outs and a runner in scoring position, regularly deliver a knock to get that runner home.

On occasion, the best team in baseball can show its ability to slug and deliver a game-altering home run when the opponent makes an incorrect decision.

On Tuesday night, the Milwaukee Brewers did all those things and more, and in the process handed the Mariners their worst loss in franchise history with a humbling 22-0 embarrassment before 36,870 at American Family Field.

The situation got so bad that Leo Rivas pitched the eighth inning and allowed nine runs, one of which scored because Julio Rodríguez forgot how many outs there were and threw the ball into the outfield stands.

It was that kind of night when the best team in baseball improved to 30 games over .500 while leaving the M’s shamed by their performance.

In celebration of their 50th season, the M’s added a record, topping the 21-1 loss to Houston in 2019. The 22 runs tied the most allowed in franchise history with a 2015 loss in Boston.

The offensive improvement and positive feelings coming out of a series win against Houston over the weekend were replaced by a stagnant offense, some continued shakiness from starter Bryce Miller and another mismanagement of the bullpen by manager Dan Wilson.

Brendan Donovan doubled to lead off the game, but the Mariners didn’t get another hit until Brock Rodden’s infield single with two outs in the fifth. Miller allowed a disputed run in the first inning — more on that in a bit — settled down for the next three innings, then gave up a five-spot in the fifth inning capped by Christian Yelich’s two-out, three-run homer.

And Wilson? With lefties Josh Simpson and Jose A. Ferrer both warming in the bullpen and Miller clearly laboring, he opted to stick with his starter to face Yelich. And when a 1-1 splitter by Miller floated to the middle of the plate, Yelich turned a 3-0 game into 6-0.

When Simpson jogged in to take over for Miller, he was being tasked with mop-up duty for a game already decided. David Hamilton’s three-run homer and Jake Bauers’ two-run shot off Simpson, both in the sixth inning, only added to what was already another miserable night at the ballpark.

The M’s were shut out for the 12th time. Miller was tagged for five earned runs for the second straight start and has a 6.57 ERA over his last seven starts dating to July 9.

Bauers was at the center of an eventful first inning both on the field and in the stands.

Cellphones through the stadium echoed with buzzing alarm as a tornado warning was issued for Milwaukee County at almost the same moment Rodriguez made a leaping catch just in front of the wall in center field to rob Jackson Chourio of extra bases at the minimum and possibly a home run.

The combo of the phones buzzing with serious weather warnings, rain leaking through the panels of the roof covering American Family Field from the storm outside the stadium and Rodriguez’s catch would normally be enough action for one inning. But Bauers kept the inning going with a two-out double and then came a disputed play at the plate.

William Contreras’ sharp single was quickly fielded by Randy Arozarena and his throw to the plate was on target and well in time. Cal Raleigh even protected his mitt with his bare hand as he went to make the tag, but Bauers appeared to swat at the glove with his hands, knocking the ball loose. Bauers didn’t touch the plate initially, but dived back in time ahead of Raleigh’s tag.

Both Raleigh and Wilson seemed to think home plate umpire Adrian Johnson should have ruled differently. In the bigger picture of everything else that happened, it was a minor moment.

Miller was challenged to get through the next three innings without giving up runs, but it quickly fell apart in the fifth. David Hamilton’s infield single was followed by a stolen base. Brice Turang walked and both he and Hamilton pulled off a double steal to put runners at second and third. Chourio dumped a soft single into center to give Milwaukee a 2-0 lead. Bauers walked on four pitches and Contreras lined a sac fly to left field for the second out of the inning and a 3-0 Brewers lead.

This was the moment Wilson should have gone to the bullpen for Ferrer. Instead, Miller’s splitter missed its spot, Yelich homered for only the third time since July 4 and the M’s were cast on the way to their ugliest loss in franchise history.