3 takeaways from Seattle's series finale vs. Crew

MILWAUKEE -- A four-run fourth inning was the difference as the Mariners fell to the Brewers, 4-2, in Thursday’s series finale at Miller Park. Seattle did manage to take two of three from Milwaukee and clinched its second straight series win.

Here are three takeaways from Thursday’s contest:

• Box score

One pitch burns Leake

Mariners starter Mike Leake, falling to 7-7, probably deserved a better fate. Like most Seattle pitchers during this series, he threw the ball fairly well, but he was the first to blink against the Brewers’ offense.

After a suicide squeeze bunt from opposing starter Chase Anderson put the Brewers ahead, 1-0, in the bottom of the fourth inning, Leake made his only real mistake of the game. He left a first-pitch cutter out over the plate to Orlando Arcia, who got enough barrel on the 87.7 mph offering and snuck it over the right-field fence for a two-out, three-run homer, giving Milwaukee a 4-0 lead.

“I could have placed it a little better. Could have gone off the plate testing, and tested where he was at first, instead of going at him. That was the big hit,” Leake said. “I thought it was [out] off the bat, yeah.”

“Arcia is an aggressive hitter. He got on the first one there. That’s the big hit in the ballgame,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “Mike threw the ball fine. That’s kind of what Mike does. He navigates his way through lineups. [Brewers first baseman Eric] Thames was on him pretty good, but the other guys, for the most part, he kept them off balance.”

Leake threw six innings, allowing those four runs, while striking out five and walking one. He has now gone six innings or more in nine of his last 11 starts.

“That one inning was the blemish,” Leake said. “For the most part, [catcher Tom] Murphy and I were making pretty good pitches.”

Makeshift bullpen getting job done

The Mariners have been forced to be creative with several relievers nursing a litany of ailments, but Seattle’s current mix of relievers has been getting the job done and played a big role in the series victory over Milwaukee.

Seattle relievers tossed two more scoreless innings Thursday to cap off an impressive series against one of the best lineups in baseball. Mariners traditional relievers finished the series with 10 scoreless innings pitched with 10 strikeouts.

“I thought our bullpen was outstanding in this series. Even the guys that came in to hold them right there to give us a chance late. Some positive things to take out of it there,” Servais said. “Guys are throwing strikes. Matt Festa is filling up the strike zone. Positive outing from Dan Altavilla today. That’s what we’re hoping to get as we move down the road in the second half of the season; get those guys in a better spot confidence-wise.”

Reliever Austin Adams has been a big part of the bullpen’s turnaround, and his newest opportunity as one of the Mariners’ late-inning options has taken the pressure off of closer Roenis Elias.

“Guys will come from different organizations, and coming in here where our bullpen was in such flux and we didn’t really have roles, most times when you come to the big leagues as a young guy out of Triple-A, you’re trying to earn your keep,” Servais said. “When we got Austin, we were kind of scrambling. We were just looking for guys who had stuff, but could throw enough strikes, and that’s all I said to him, ‘Just throw it over the plate and trust your stuff.’”

It’s clear that Adams has done just that, as he has been lights out when called upon, throwing 10 1/3 scoreless innings in his last nine appearances and posting a 2.61 ERA overall since being acquired from the Nationals on May 4.

“He’s been great. He’s throwing the ball really well. Getting big outs,” Servais said. “His confidence is growing and he’s getting good hitters out, so he should have a lot of confidence right now.”

Seager dealing with hand discomfort

Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager sat for the second straight day as he nurses a right hand injury. Seager felt some discomfort after a swing during Tuesday’s game. Tim Beckham took his place in the lineup, batting fifth.

Servais noted prior to Thursday’s game that Seager could have been used as a defensive replacement, but hoped to give the third baseman an additional day of rest.

“I think he’s going to be OK,” Servais said. “For me, no reason to rush him back day game after a night game. ... We’ll see how he is over in Houston. … He’s on some anti-inflammatory stuff. I don’t think it will be a big issue.”