Rays Sweep Mariners with Dominant Road Series Win

The Seattle Mariners have struggled significantly in their recent series against the Tampa Bay Rays, culminating in a sweep and a series of disappointing performances. George Kirby had a notably poor start, giving up eight runs in two innings, while Luis Castillo also struggled, surrendering five earned runs and failing to pitch beyond the fourth inning. The Rays, led by Junior Caminero's 40th homer and 100 RBIs, held on to close victories, with Tampa Bay winning five straight games to reach a .500 record. Mariners hitters have been largely ineffective against tough Rays pitching, including Adrian Houser and Garrett Cleavinger. The Mariners' road difficulties continue, with the team falling behind in the playoff race and posting a poor ERA and home run rate for Castillo in recent starts. Despite a strong home run from Cal Raleigh, Seattle was unable to avoid defeat in close contests, highlighting ongoing challenges in both pitching and hitting on the road.