Mariners on the brink of elimination after dispiriting 5-3 loss to Rockies

Ryan Divish, The Seattle Times on Sep 19, 2026

Published in Baseball

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DENVER — The outline to the Seattle Mariners’ 5-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies felt familiar because it followed one that’s been far too common this season.

— The Mariners grab an early lead against the starting pitcher then fail to add runs in the innings that follow.

— Seattle’s starter doesn’t provide a quality start, forcing the middle relievers to come into the game early.

— The bullpen gives up the lead in the sixth or seventh inning.

— A possible ninth-inning rally falls short.

The second-half quest to win just three games in a row for the first time since mid-July ended a game short again.

With the loss, the Mariners fell to 72-83 on the season and fell six games behind the first-place Texas Rangers in the AL West with just seven games left to play.

As for that familiar outline to defeat, the Mariners jumped on Rockies starter Jose Quintana immediately, building an early lead.

Cal Raleigh crushed the longest homer of his career — a 459-foot two-run blast to left-center — in the first inning. Randy Arozarena belted his 26th homer of the season in the third inning. His solo blast made it 3-0.

The Mariners wouldn’t score again.

Bryce Miller gave the Mariners a workable start, pitching into the sixth inning for the first time since Aug. 12. But he couldn’t finish the inning. He allowed one unearned run on four hits with two walks and six strikeouts.

The bullpen gave up the lead, allowing four runs in the seventh.

Down two runs going into the ninth, Michael Arroyo singled with one out off Brennan Bernadino. But the veteran lefty and one-time Mariner come back to strike out Laz Montes and Weston Wilson to end the game.

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