Out-thundered and sundered, San Diego squashes Seattle 7-4
Knocked around and laid out.
May 16, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez (44) robs San Diego Padres catcher Rodolfo Duran of a home run in the ninth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Richard Dizon-Imagn Images | Richard Dizon-Imagn Images The roof was closed from the start on a blustery afternoon in Seattle, with rare thunderstorms in the forecast. The Mariners’ offense gathered, swirled, and covered the field in strong contact, line drives, and threat after threat.
But it was the Padres whose lumber cracked like thunder, pummeling Logan Gilbert under a storm of punished mistakes. Enlisting the help of my compatriots around the ballpark, I’ve secured a procedural slice of the game from a collection of the staff seated in the 300 level, adding the crucial details from the press box that had little insight pregame and few happy faces postgame including a dour-faced Dan Wilson. From the collective: First Inning: It’s a 4:15 start.
The vibes are confusing immediately. Logan Gilbert looks sharp in the home whites and cuts through the Padres easily. The Mariners pick up the dance steps and go 1-2-3 in kind.
Second: Gavin Sheets hits a solo homer. Everyone involved should be embarrassed. Luke Raley singles, and the threat of total mortification disappears.