SEATTLE – A memorable season ended for the Seattle Mariners on Saturday, with their hopes at an ALCS appearance vanishing after a 1-0 loss to the Houston Astros in an 18-inning game over the weekend. Read below for what happened in that game, along with recaps for the Seahawks and Kraken.

Mariners

What a season it was for the Seattle Mariners – the team was 29-39 in the middle of June and turned it around into the franchise’s first playoff appearance in 21 seasons. After the many highlights, including the emergence of outfielder Julio Rodríguez, a 15-game win streak to close out the first half and so many more, it came to a sour end with a sweep in the ALDS to the division rival Houston Astros.

The ALDS was about as close as a sweep could get, with Seattle having chances to win in each game. Game 1 ended with a walk-off, three-run home run by Houston’s Yordan Alvarez to give the Astros an 8-7 win. Game 2 saw Alvarez hit another crucial home run, this time a two-run homer to snatch the lead away from the Mariners, one they never reclaimed. Game 3, however, lasted as long as the first two games combined.

The 18-inning Game 3 saw nine relievers fill in for the Mariners after George Kirby’s seven-inning outing, where relievers combined for 11 innings and surrendered five hits. Seattle had scoring opportunities in extra innings, but runners in scoring position were left on base in both the 13th and 17th innings. After Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña scored the game’s first run in the 18th inning on a solo home run to center field on a 3-2 pitch, outfielder Jarred Kelenic and shortstop J.P. Crawford both grounded out and Rodríguez lined out to center field to close the game in a Houston win.

As the 2022 season comes to a close, preparation for 2023 will begin soon. Three of Seattle’s 12 free agents this season include Carlos Santana, Adam Frazier and Mitch Haniger, all of which recorded five hits and at least one RBI in the postseason.

Seahawks

Just a week after back-to-back games where the defense allowed over 430 yards of offense to the Lions and Saints, the Seattle Seahawks locked down on the Arizona Cardinals in a 19-9 home win.

Arizona had some success moving the football, but three defensive stands on fourth down in Seattle territory kept the Cardinals from adding more points on the board. The first was an incomplete pass attempt from quarterback Kyler Murray to receiver Rondale Moore, the second was another incomplete pass to receiver A.J. Green and on the final fourth-down attempt Murray was sacked by defensive end Quinton Jefferson. The 315 yards of total offense for Arizona was the fewest gained on the Seahawks’ defense in a game this season.

While the Seahawks offense was nothing to write home about, they were able to move into position for kicker Jason Meyers to attempt four field goals, all of which he hit. Their lone touchdown came on an 11-yard run by Kenneth Walker III, where the rookie bounced out to the left of the offensive line and outran the Arizona defense into the end zone.

Joining Walker III in impressive rookies is Tariq Woolen, whose fourth-quarter interception all but sealed the game in Seattle’s favor. Woolen, a fifth-round pick out of the University of Texas at San Antonio, picked off his fourth pass of the season and has now intercepted a pass in four-straight games.

Next up for Seattle (3-3) is a road game against the Los Angeles Chargers (4-2), who are coming off an overtime win over the Denver Broncos on Monday night. Kickoff is at 1:25 p.m. on Sunday.

Kraken

The Seattle Kraken are 1-2-1 through four games, with a 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings, losses to the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes and an overtime 5-4 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. Left wing Andre Burakovsky leads the Kraken in goals (2), assists (3) and points (5). Both of Burakovsky’s goals have come on power plays, the first against Anaheim and the second against Carolina. Center Jaden Schwartz is tied with Burakovsky for the team lead in goals.

Next up for the Kraken after Wednesday’s home matchup against St. Louis are back-to-back road games against Colorado and Chicago on Friday and Sunday before returning home to face Buffalo on Tuesday.

Ian Bivona may be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.