Mariners face adversity ahead of series vs. Astros

Things have gone from bad to worse for the Seattle Mariners.

Not only were they swept in a three-game series in San Francisco that concluded Sunday, but right fielder Victor Robles, their leadoff hitter, suffered an injury to his left arm and could miss playing time.

The Mariners will return home Monday night to open a three-game series with the American League West-rival Houston Astros, followed by a three-game series against the division-leading Texas Rangers.

Robles was injured while making a spectacular leaping catch in the right field corner with the score tied in the bottom of the ninth inning, launching himself into the protective netting to make the play. He immediately crumpled to the warning track and rolled the ball back toward the infield while clutching his left wrist and forearm. After being attended to by the team’s training staff, he was carted off the field in obvious discomfort.

“It’s something with his shoulder, and we’ll find out more here as we go,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said.

Giants pinch hitter Wilmer Flores lined the next pitch into right field to give San Francisco a 5-4 victory.

Robles has been one of the few bright spots for a Mariners offense that is tied for 25th among 30 MLB teams with 32 runs, through 10 games.

Robles went 2-for-5 Sunday to raise his average to .273 — the Mariners are batting .213 as a team — and sparked a rally in the top of the ninth with a one-out single. After advancing on a groundout, he stole third and scored the tying run on Randy Arozarena’s two-out double.

“He’s such a force,” Wilson said. “Big hits. The great defense that he plays. And then causing a lot of havoc on the bases and doing what he does out there. He’s a great guy to have at the top of your lineup, and that’s why we’re hoping for the best.”

Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez, who homered in the first inning, was the first to reach Robles after the injury.

“I just noticed he was in pain, and I just called the trainers immediately,” Rodríguez said. “Obviously, he made all that effort … but it’s a high cost.”

Wilson said Robles was taken to the Giants’ medical room and was undergoing further testing.

The Mariners (3-7) are off to their worst 10-game start since 2017.

“We’ve got a long way to go,” Wilson said. “It’s just time to regroup, get back home (for) a couple division opponents and take it from there.”

The Astros also have struggled. They had lost four of five before scoring eight unanswered runs for a 9-7 victory in 10 innings Sunday at Minnesota.

Yordan Alvarez hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning to tie the score. In the 10th, Jose Altuve singled home ghost runner Brendan Rodgers, and Jake Meyers raced home as part of a double steal.

“That was a team win,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “(We got) contributions from a lot of players. Our bullpen did a nice job keeping us in there. Some small ball, bunting guys over, stealing home, trying to find a way to win a game — and we did.”

The Astros are scheduled to send Hayden Wesneski (0-1, 5.40 ERA) to the mound Monday against fellow right-hander Logan Gilbert (0-1, 3.00), who has struck out 18 through two starts, with only one walk.

Wesneski is 0-0 with a 33.75 ERA in one previous start against Seattle. Pitching for the Chicago Cubs on April 11, 2023, he allowed seven runs (five earned) over 1 1/3 innings on a Wrigley Field windy day on which the hosts rallied for a 14-9 victory.

Gilbert is 5-4 with a 3.63 ERA in 12 career starts against the Astros.

–Field Level Media