Bonderman's start goes to waste

Tonight Jeremy Bonderman took the mound but the story of night was the major league debut of Mike Zunino. Bonderman only need 10 pitches and 4 minutes to end the top of the first inning. Jordan Lyles was dealing to start his night, striking out 5 batters in the first 2 innings. Nothing exciting happened until the bottom of the fourth inning, after Raul Ibanez lead off the inning by striking out Nick Franklin was able to slice a double to bring up Zunino, who struck out in his first at bat, was able to line one into center field for his first major league hit and on the play Franklin could've scored but third base coach Daren Brown held him up, this would end up costing the Mariners a huge chance to take the lead early in the game.

With Franklin and Zunino on base Michael Saunders was looking to drive in at least one of them but drew his second walk of the ball game, both Brendan Ryan and Alex Liddi struck out to end the threat by the Mariners. Brown's decision to hold up Franklin would be very costly, cause not only could Franklin score but it could've given the Mariners the confidence they needed to score a few more runs. Bonderman wouldn't mind though, he was dealing through the whole game. Bonderman would go eight innings of shutout innings, while striking out and throwing only 89 pitches.

The Mariners got things started in the bottom of the eighth inning. Endy Chavez started the inning off right by singling to put the go ahead run on for the Mariners. Jason Bay then put down a bunt and thanks to the Houston Astros horrible defense, Marvin Gonzalez dropped the exchanged throw and the Mariners now had two runners on with nobody out. Travis Blackley was then brought in to try and get out of the jam for the Astros, he was able to get Kyle Seager to pop out in foul territory and then strikeout Ibanez but Nick Franklin, who had two hits so far in the game, was able to line one into right allowing the speedy Chavez to score and the Mariners would be done there and go into the ninth leading 1-0.

On what would be a bonehead move by manager Eric Wedge he brought in closer Tom Wilhelmsen to close the game and did not let Bonderman go and finish what he started. The ninth would be a disaster for not only Tommy boy but the Mariners bullpen as they gave up 6 runs and that would be all she wrote. The Astros avoided the sweep and improved to 7-4 against the Mariners this season. Thankfully the Mariners have an off day tomorrow after 3 straight weeks of playing. They will only be on the road for 6 games, two 3 game sets with the A's and Angels and will come right back home.

NOTES: There was a tweet I saw that said that Bonderman threw a chair in the clubhouse and had to be escorted out of the clubhouse and was kept away from Wilhelmsen.