MINNEAPOLIS — Even if the Mariners don’t want this to be the expectation, it has become reality — and it doesn’t seem likely to change in a season that’s already lost.
For a third consecutive day at Target Field, the Mariners bullpen delivered another abysmal showing, turning a promising bounce-back start from Yusei Kikuchi and a tie game into another lopsided loss. Seattle relievers gave up nine runs in two innings, leading to a 10-5 drubbing by the Twins that wasn’t that close. It was the 16th time this season that the Mariners pitching staff has given up double-digit runs.