Mariners notebook: Fifth straight loss leads to players-only meeting

It’s a day game after a night game on a getaway day, so there’s not much time for the Mariners to stew about their fifth straight loss at home.

It was a very different scene in the clubhouse Tuesday night when the media was let it. It was completely empty. After 10 minutes of waiting, the team filed in from the main entrance and it became immediately clear that there had been a players-only meeting. Nelson Cruz confirmed as much.

“We are the ones that don’t get it done, so we are the one to step up and say something,” he said. “Just to remind the young guys, ‘We are going to be okay. Don’t lose your focus of what we are here for. Win games. At the end, we are going to be okay.'”

Eight games into the season may be a record for the earliest players-only meeting, but desperate times call for desperate measures. For the first time in team history, the Mariners have started 0-5 at home. While seeing the veteran leadership step up is usually a good thing, the circumstances are not, according to manager Scott Servais.

“Meetings are never a good sign,” he said. “It means that things aren’t going well. But the players, they know that we are not on top of our game and they want to address it, and you commend them for it. They’re a little embarrassed by how they are playing on this home-stand. We need to get it turned around today.”

Lineup!

Norichika Aoki, LF
Seth Smith, DH
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nelson Cruz, RF
Kyle Seager, 3B
Adam Lind, 1B
Chris Iannetta, C
Leonys Martin, CF
Ketel Marte, SS

Taijuan Walker, RHP

Notes

• While this isn’t the home opener, Taijuan Walker goes to the hill with a little extra as the Mariners need to see an end to their losing streak. If he is going to turn into the pitcher many believe he can become, stopper will be one of his roles. Why not today? The team has done well with Walker on the hill, going 14-5 in his last 19 starts.

• Joaquin Benoit most likely is still not available today. Servais listed Steve Cishek, Joel Peralta and Vidal Nuno as relievers who should be good to go against the Rangers.

• Charlie Furbush played catch again today. He will not travel with the team on its upcoming roadtrip.