Carson Smith blows lead in ninth in Mariners’ loss to Twins

MINNEAPOLIS – Here’s the first takeaway from a crushing loss the Mariners suffered Saturday night when rookie closer Carson Smith blew a ninth-inning lead in a 3-2 walk-off loss to the Minnesota Twins.

“If we have a lead (Sunday) in the ninth inning,” manager Lloyd McClendon said, “he’ll be back out there.”

McClendon’s statement represents the latest move that underscores the Mariners’ shift to an evaluation-and-development mode over the final two months after a series of trades just prior to Friday’s non-waiver deadline.

“The inexperience showed up tonight,” McClendon said. “That’s the only way you’re going to learn. You have to learn from these mistakes. He’ll be better as a result of it.”

Smith (1-5) is learning hard lessons lately. He now had losses in three straight appearances while allowing five runs in a combined one inning. His ERA has jumped from 1.77 to 2.81.

Smith inherited a 2-1 lead to start the ninth inning after a strong start from Mike Montgomery and scoreless innings by relievers Tom Wilhelmsen and Fernando Rodney.

Trouble started immediately as Miguel Sano rocked Smith’s first pitch into the right-field corner for a double. After Shane Robinson replaced Sano as a pinch-runner, Smith struck out Trevor Plouffe on three pitches.

Smith then threw a wild pitch that moved Robinson to third, which prompted the Mariners to shorten their infield with Torii Hunter at the plate. Smith snagged Hunter’s hopper, held the runner and got the out at first.

An intentional walk to Eddie Rosario put the winning run on base but set up a right-on-right matchup against Kurt Suzuki.

Another wild pitch foiled the strategy. Robinson scored the tying run, and Rosario moved to second. Rosario stole third without a throw and scored the winning run when Suzuki punched an RBI single through the left side.

Trevor May (7-7) got the victory after pitching a scoreless ninth for the Twins.

Nelson Cruz’s 28th homer broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning.