NEW YORK – The disappointment on George Kirby’s face couldn’t be hidden and he seemed almost apologetic after an outing in which he had no reason to be contrite.

SEATTLE – After trying to pull a cutter on the outside half and shattering his bat in his first plate appearance against Chicago’s Lance Lynn, Julio Rodriguez did what the Mariners have been pushing for and what he’s been working on in recent weeks to drive in two big runs in the third inning.

SEATTLE – The Seattle Mariners’ trip to the East Coast is crucial to their postseason lives.

SEATTLE – The frustration was growing with each swing and miss and each “K” being written into the score book.

There’d been a hesitance to be too self-congratulatory or proclaim his team’s inconsistent offense was fixed. Scott Servais knew better than that based on the starts, stops and strikeouts he’s seen this season. At best, the Mariners’ manager was cautiously optimistic that a sustained change in his team’s approach at the plate was made.

SEATTLE – This one … this one might sting for a bit.

SEATTLE – As the ball kept carrying over the wall in right-center, much to his disbelief and discontent, Bryan Woo screamed into his glove in frustration.

SEATTLE – Last week, manager Scott Servais implored his hitters to tweak their approach at the plate, hoping to cut down on the team’s soaring strikeout rate.

SEATTLE – The Mariners left Wednesday’s loss to the Marlins with a 33-34 record, which is ahead of where they were around this point last year. Remember, it was after Game 68 in 2022 that the Mariners sat at 29-39 and appeared locked out of the postseason almost three months before it began.

SEATTLE – Of course, Teoscar Hernandez wanted to do well, wanted to be the middle-of-the-order threat the Mariners needed early in the season.

SEATTLE – Following back-to-back victories in which they scored eight runs and made life miserable for Miami Marlins starting pitchers, the Seattle Mariners’ recent offense “surge” over the past five games was suppressed by a 20-year-old phenom.