Mariners fend off tie-based catastrophe with noble six-inning sacrifice, lose

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Scott Servais made a difficult choice today, on the back of a record fourth straight tie, to avert completing the dark ritual laid out before him, summoning a creature so monstrous and unholy that would surely devastate the land. Servais summoned all the courage within him, walked over to Angels skipper Joe Maddon, and requested they play six full today, no matter the score, no matter the cost. They reached an accord, and so it was that the Mariners ensured their reality-shattering streak of ties would come to an end in today’s 6-2 loss.

The intrigue of the day for M’s fans was seeing the first look at RHP Logan Gilbert, the team’s top pitching prospect by…