Cubs bludgeon Mariners, Bryce Miller to salvage series finale

Adam Jude, The Seattle Times on Aug 23, 2026

Published in Baseball

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SEATTLE — For the second time in as many Bryce Miller starts, the Seattle Mariners were bludgeoned by a National League Central team, this time in an embarrassing 19-2 defeat to the Chicago Cubs on Sunday afternoon at T-Mobile Park.

On his 28th birthday, Miller was tagged for six runs after issuing a career-high seven walks. He threw a season-high 104 pitches, five days after taking the loss in the Mariners’ most lopsided loss in franchise history, 22-0, Tuesday in Milwaukee.

Miller has allowed 33 earned runs in his last eight starts — a 7.19 ERA over 41 1/3 innings — and it’s fair to wonder if his place in the rotation is in jeopardy after the encouraging debut of top prospect Kade Anderson on Saturday.

The Mariners failed to carry over momentum from Randy Arozarena’s heroics Saturday, when they scored three runs with two outs in the ninth inning for a stunning 5-4 victory to claim the series win over the Cubs.

Arozarena, for the second day in a row, hit a leadoff homer Sunday to give the Mariners an early lead.

Victor Robles extended the M’s lead to 2-0 when he stole second base, then third base and scored on an errant throw in the second inning.

The Cubs (75-56) answered with five in the third inning off Miller, who allowed a leadoff homer to Michael Conforto.

Miller then walked the bases loaded before surrendering a grand slam to Ian Happ, who yanked a low splitter off the right-field foul pole to give the Cubs the lead.

The Mariners (62-69) remain three games back of the Astros and Rangers in the AL West, thanks in part to the Athletics’ 7-6 victory in Houston on Sunday.

Every AL West team is now below .500.

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