MINNEAPOLIS — Their absences in the lineup are obvious and harmful. But the Mariners can’t blame their latest defeat on not having Nelson Cruz and Mike Zunino’s power bats.
Sure the only players in their current lineups to hit homers this year are Mitch Haniger (2) and Dee Gordon (1). But they didn’t need a home run on Thursday to change the outcome in a 4-2 loss to the Twins. They simply needed a base hit or a productive out to change their fortunes. Instead, they failed in both avenues.
The Mariners had just two hits in 17 at-bats with runners in scoring position and stranded 11 on base.