The Saunders' steal the show!

Joe Saunders was nicknamed Safeco Joe as he entered yesterday's game with a record of 7-0 at Safeco Field and Michael Saunders made his return from a sprained shoulder. Joe began his night by getting the Orioles 1-2-3 in the top half of the first, Michael's night began just as well, on the second pitch he saw he smashed a fastball to right field for his second HR of the year and extended his hitting streak to 8 games. So with the Michael Saunders HR Joe Saunders had the lead to work with and was able to get another 1-2-3 inning and had an easy 3rd inning. In the top of the 4th was when Joe got into trouble, with 2 outs Joe gave up a single to Chris Davis and then Matt Weiters took Saunders deep and the Orioles took a 2-1 lead. In the bottom of the 4th the Mariners went to work with Mike Morse leading off the inning with a base hit and Jesus Montero walking. After Justin Smoak popped out Jason Bay doubled down the left field line that drove in Morse and moved Montero to third. Robert Andino was able to get ahold of a pitch and lined it to right field that scored Montero.

Joe kept the Orioles at bay by getting two straight innings of going 1-2-3. In the bottom of the 6th inning the Mariners got some insurance runs. The inning began with Smoak singling with a broken bat soft line drive to left field, after that there was an injury delay but the funny thing was that the injury was because home plate umpire Alan Porter threw the ball hitting Zach Britton in his throwing shoulder......now how could you throw a baseball at a guy who isnt paying attention? Well Britton was fine as he threw 4 practice pitches and was cleared to continue. Bay singled for the second time in the game, next Andino did his job and moved the runners over with a sacrifice bunt. Now surprisingly Brendan Ryan was to line one into right field that scored Smoak, following that Michael Saunders was able to beat out a ground ball and on the play Bay was able to score. So here we are, 2 outs and Kyle Seager is at bat, Seager last year was so clutch in 2-out situations and he came through in this one by tripling and driving in Michael from first. 

Joe Saunders finished the game off the game by not allowing another run and going the distance for the first complete game by a Mariners pitcher of the year. During the post game interview Saunders apologized for his poor pitching performance in Houston......well apology accepted Safeco Saunders! Saunders during the post game interview got a traditional Gatorade dunk as some of the bullpen guys dowsed him with the Gatorade cooler. In tonight's game the M's was able to get 11 more hits thus raising the team's batting average from .218 to .240. Jason Bay also raised his batting average to .269, the Mariners have been batting .295 over the last 8 games so this is a real sign that things are starting to pick up with this club. The M's put their winning streak to a season high 3 games and improved to 12-16 and moving up to only 5.5 games behind first place. 

NOTES: Dustin Ackley was given the day off because of the left handed starter. Joe Saunders improved his career of pitching in Safeco Field to 8-0 with a 1.74 ERA.