From the moment the lineup cards were revealed, this game had all the hallmarks of a finishing blow, of a loss that would epitomize the Mariners inexorable regression into the abyss of the standings. Each out that passed by seemed like the one to point to and say “here’s where they lost it.”
I think it could be argued that there are more negative takeaways from this game than positive ones, but I won’t make that claim. That kind of thinking will have you watching a team succeed with gritted teeth, concerned with doing things “the right way.