A blown save and a loss on the rocks

Before tonight's game the Mariners made a very interesting move. Alex Liddi was brought up and Brandon Maurer was sent down to Triple A Tacoma and Wedge wouldn't say who would start Sunday's game against the Minnesota Twins. We can only guess who will take to the mound on Sunday whether it be Hector Noesi or Jeremy Bonderman. Bonderman's minor league contract will expire on June 1st so the Mariners will have the option of either giving him the start, releasing him, or re-signing him.

Ok, now lets get to the recap of tonight's game shall I? Joe Saunders took to the mound against Eric Stults. The bottom of the first saw Saunders's streak of 22 2/3 innings of shutout pitching against the Padres come to an end as Chase Headley drove one deep into the second deck in left field and the Padres took the 1-0 lead. Stults continued his dominance by striking out 6 through 4 innings. In the top of the fourth inning the Mariners were able to tack on their first run of the game. After Jason Bay struck out to lead off the inning Endy Chavez singled ending the streak of 10 in a row set down by Stults. Kyle Seager doubled advancing Chavez to third, Kendrys Morales then grounded out scoring Chavez from third to tie up the game at one a piece.

After the top of the fourth pitching for both sides dominated. Saunders pitched a brilliant seven strong innings only giving up the one run and allowing only 4 hits. Eric Stults though went 8 really strong innings and striking out a career high 12 Mariners hitters. Going into the top of the ninth inning Stults's night was done and the Padres sent out Houston Street, who has an incredible success against the Mariners. Jason Bay saw three sinker pitches from Street and the third one he saw put the Mariners in front 2-1 as his sixth homerun of the year just sailed over the left field fence and just sailed past Kyle Blanks's glove. Tom Wilhelmsen was brought in to close the game for the Mariners. Tommy boy did not bring his stuff, his control was completely off as failed to locate his pitches and after giving up a base hit Jedd Gyorko he loaded the bases after intentionally walking Yonder Alonso. Wilhelmsen failed to shut the door and gave up a game tying sacrifice fly but was able to get out of the inning without surrendering the game winning run.

The Mariners couldn't muster a hit or a runner in the top half of the tenth inning. Yoervis Medina was brought in for Tommy boy in the bottom of the tenth inning. Chris Denorfia hit a ground ball to Brendan Ryan and on the ground ball Ryan made a beautiful under the legs scoop but couldn't make an accurate throw to get Denorfia at first. The next batter Everth Cabrera hit a hard single to left center field on a hit and run play which also allowed Denorfia to advance to third. So here is another jam for a Mariners pitcher, Medina intentionally walked Chase Headley to load the bases. Will Venable only needed three pitches, on the third pitch he saw he lined a ball passed Morales at first to drive in the game winning run.

NOTES: Nick Franklin on a positive note was able to get his first major league hit out of the way. The Tacoma Rainiers tonight though had better hitting and run success then the Mariners did. The Rainiers destroyed the Colorado Spring Sky Sox 25-6! Not counting the two pinch hitters in the game for the Rainiers all starters for the team had at least two hits in the game, the Rainiers had 30 total hits. Dustin Ackley went 5-6 with a homerun and 3 RBIs. Both Erik Thames and Brad Miller had 6 RBIs. Abraham Almonte went a perfect 6-6.