Mariners lose JP Crawford to injury during Padres series finale

Seattle Mariners shortstop JP Crawford exited Sunday’s 8-3 loss to the San Diego Padres after being struck by a 91.6 mph fastball from starter Lucas Giolito in the third inning. The pitch hit Crawford on the right triceps, resulting in a contusion, and he later left the game before the fifth inning due to inflammation and limited throwing extension, according to manager Dan Wilson. He was replaced by utilityman Leo Rivas.

Crawford initially stayed in the game after the hit-by-pitch but showed increasing discomfort. He finished the contest early as Seattle dropped its series finale at T-Mobile Park. The 31-year-old entered the game hitting .217/.361/.377 with six home runs, four doubles, and a .738 OPS across 39 games. He is the Mariners’ longest-tenured player. The team continues to manage multiple injuries, with Cal Raleigh, Victor Robles, Matt Brash, and Gabe Speier all on the injured list.

Seattle’s offense could not get anything going, producing only one hit in the game, a single from Luke Raley in the second inning. The Mariners finished 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position and left five runners on base. All three Seattle runs came in the sixth inning after Lucas Giolito issued three consecutive walks to open the frame. After Giolito was removed, reliever Yuki Matsui allowed a walk to Josh Naylor, followed by sacrifice flies from Randy Arozarena and Rob Refsnyder.

San Diego built its lead early with a solo home run from Gavin Sheets in the first inning and an RBI single from Ty France in the fifth. The Padres then broke the game open with a five-run sixth inning, highlighted by Sheets’ second home run and additional RBI contributions from Jackson Merrill and France. Mariners starter George Kirby allowed six earned runs on six hits, including two home runs, with six strikeouts and two walks over 5.2 innings.

Giolito, making his San Diego debut, allowed only one hit but was lifted after issuing three straight walks in the sixth.

The loss dropped Seattle to 22-26, third in the AL West, two games behind the Athletics and one game out of the final AL wild card position behind the Texas Rangers. It also completed a six-game season series sweep by the Padres.

The Mariners continue their homestand Monday against the Chicago White Sox, with Bryan Woo scheduled to start against Noah Schultz.

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