SEATTLE -- The result wasn't what he wanted, as the Mariners suffered a 6-1 loss to the White Sox on Tuesday night, but for Wade Miley, it may have been a turning point.
"Really, two mistakes," the left-hander said. "It just so happens both of them got hit in the seats."
On Tuesday, Miley allowed three earned runs in 6 1/3 innings. He said his start mostly boiled down to two pitches that got away from him.
Miley gave up two solo home runs, to Brett Lawrie and Melky Cabrera. Both were on curveballs. Miley was charged with a third run after he put two men on in the seventh inning and handed the ball over to Tom Wilhelmsen. Wilhelmsen allowed one of them to score before working his way out of the inning.
"I definitely thought it was a step in the right direction," manager Scott Servais said. "Definitely thought that's the best he's thrown the ball in a while, so that's a positive there."
Going into his start against Chicago, Miley had a 6.19 ERA in his three previous outings.
"Obviously I wasn't in a good place a couple weeks ago," Miley said. "I felt a lot better tonight."
This time, he made an adjustment and something clicked.
"I was going over my head a bit to slow myself down and get more of a rhythm," Miley said. "Just felt like I was on top of the rubber at separation and able to stay behind the ball, I guess. I was a lot more comfortable."
He was able to keep the ball down, and helped his infield with ground balls in double play situations. The Mariners turned three double plays behind Miley, one short of tying their season-high.
"That's kind of what I've been throughout my career," Miley said. "A guy that's been able to keep the ball on the ground. And it's always nice to get those."