Mariners’ September Surge Stalls; Julio Rodriguez Faces ALDS Challenge

October baseball strips away regular-season momentum fast, and the Seattle Mariners just felt that sting in their ALDS opener.

They’d just ripped through September, winning 17 of 18 and snagging a playoff bye. But then came a 3–2, 11-inning gut-punch loss to the Detroit Tigers. Game 1 brought tense pitching, missed chances, and that razor-thin postseason margin for error.

Seattle’s Red-Hot September Meets October Reality

The Mariners rolled into October on fire, maybe as hot as they’ve ever been. Their September run felt unstoppable, but playoff baseball doesn’t care about old streaks.

Execution under pressure rules everything. Detroit found every crack, and suddenly Seattle’s offense just froze up.

Julio Rodríguez Shines Amid an Offensive Collapse

Julio Rodríguez was one of the only Mariners who cracked Detroit’s pitching code. He hammered a solo homer and knocked in another run—basically carrying the whole offense in Game 1.

Cal Raleigh chipped in, going 3-for-5 with singles. After that, though, nobody else reached base. The bottom five hitters didn’t get a hit after the first inning—0-for-24.

Detroit’s defense, with a little help from that chilly October air, turned hard-hit balls into easy outs. Two weeks ago, the Mariners were pounding pitchers. Now? Silence. It’s kind of shocking.

George Kirby’s Strong Start Gives Way to Bullpen Trouble

George Kirby came out firing—struck out the side in the first and gave up just one run through five. He looked locked in.

But in the sixth, he left a pitch up and Kerry Carpenter made him pay with a solo homer that tied it up.

Manager Dan Wilson’s Crucial Pitching Decision

Kirby had thrown 94 pitches, so Manager Dan Wilson handed the ball to his bullpen. That group had dominated all year, so you’d think it was the right call.

But in the 11th, Carlos Vargas—who hadn’t walked anyone all September—walked the leadoff man. Raleigh called it “a recipe for a run.” Detroit cashed in and took the lead for good.

The Path Forward for Seattle

Next up: Game 2 against Tigers starter Tarik Skubal. Seattle beat him twice in the regular season, but October feels different.

The Mariners have to adjust, fast, if they want to even the series. A loss here would echo the heartbreak of 1997, when they lost a home division series and their season ended on the road.

Keys to a Game 2 Victory

If the Mariners want to bounce back, a few things have to change:

• Get production from the bottom of the order – Too many empty at-bats in Game 1 piled all the pressure on Rodríguez and Raleigh.
• Capitalize on scoring chances – Hitting the ball hard is great, but it doesn’t matter if it finds a glove. They need smarter, more situational hitting.
• Avoid free passes – Walks killed them in the opener. They can’t give Detroit those gifts again.
• Maintain starting pitching dominance – If the next starter brings Kirby’s energy, Seattle can at least make Detroit earn every run.

Final Thoughts

Seattle’s Game 1 loss stings. Every pitch and swing feels heavier in October, doesn’t it?

The Mariners need to shake off the disappointment—fast. They’ve beaten Skubal before in the regular season, so why not now?

This isn’t just about keeping the series alive. It’s about showing everyone their late-season surge actually meant something.

Win Game 2, and people start talking. Lose, and those old ’97 ghosts might creep back into the conversation.

Momentum in October baseball? It’s as fragile as your next game. The Mariners have a day to prove they still have it.

 
Here is the source article for this story: For Mariners, September sprint hits an October obstacle