CLEVELAND — After watching Seattle score nine runs the previous night, Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon hoped his team had snapped out of its offensive funk.
Nope.
Seattle reverted to form Thursday, managing a season-low two hits in a 6-0 loss to the Cleveland Indians.
“We didn’t do much offensively,” McClendon said in an understatement.
Seattle has been held to three runs or fewer in 14 of its last 15 games, the first big league team to do that since Houston from Sept. 14-29, 2013, according to STATS. The Astros finished with 111 losses that season.
The Mariners, the lowest-scoring team in the American League, had just three baserunners and lost for the ninth time in 12 games. Logan Morrison, whose career-best, 16-game hitting streak ended on an 0-for-3 afternoon, was hit by a pitch in the fourth.
Nelson Cruz, who leads the American League with 18 home runs, missed his second straight game because of back spasms. McClendon thought his cleanup hitter could have played but didn’t want to take any chances.
Shaun Marcum (3-1) retired his first nine batters and already led 5-0 before hitting Morrison on the back of his right leg leading off the fourth.
Mark Trumbo grounded a single just out of the reach of Giovanny Urshela at third and shortstop Mike Aviles with one out in the fifth. Robinson Cano doubled to right-center to lead off the seventh, but the last nine hitters made out.
Cano is batting .214 (25 for 117) since May 9.
“Marcum kept us off balance. He was doing a good job with the cutter and sinker,” McClendon said. “We hit some balls hard, but the wind was blowing. On a regular day, we probably would have three home runs.”
Marcum struck out five and walked none. Zach McAllister and Cody Allen followed with perfect innings for Cleveland, which stopped a three-game losing streak.
J.A. Happ (3-2) lasted less than three innings for the second time in five starts. He had been 3-0 in nine starts since April 17 with five straight no-decisions.
“I felt like I threw a lot of strikes the first hitter, but they did a good job of taking pitches and then fouling stuff off,” Happ said. “I guess I wasn’t as sharp as I felt like I was.”
STREAK ENDS
Morrison’s hitting streak was the longest by a Mariners’ player since Seager’s 16-game streak in April 2013.
BETTER OUTING
Fernando Rodney, removed from Seattle’s closer role last week, pitched a scoreless eighth inning with a strikeout. The right-hander allowed a run during the ninth inning on Wednesday.
“The day was better. He still cut some changeups but overall I was pleased with his outing,” McClendon said.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mariners: Cruz is expected to return Friday when Seattle opens a three-game series in Houston.
Indians: RHP Scott Atchison (sprained left ankle) is likely to be activated on Friday or Saturday. He threw a scoreless inning in a rehab assignment for Double-A Akron on Wednesday. .
UP NEXT
Mariners: RHP Felix Hernandez (9-2), who leads the AL in wins, starts Friday against Houston.
Indians: RHP Danny Salazar (6-1), fourth in the AL with 81 strikeouts, opens a three-game series Friday at Detroit.
