M's rally to win home opener

45,661 packed Safeco Field to watch one helluva home opener for the Mariners. The M's improved their record to 5-2 with a 5-3 win over the Angels and are now 4-0 against the Angels this season. The Mariners home opener got off to both a great and rough start, as the introduction of the players and the Seahawks making an appearance pumped up the crowd. Though Albert Pujols and David Freese decided to take the crowd out of the game with back-to-back home runs.

James Paxton took the mound for the Mariners last night and became the first Mariners rookie to start a home opening game, the Angels jumped out to a 3-0 lead as Pujols hit a 2-run bomb to left and Freese followed with a solo shot to center. After that first inning Paxton though would settle down and retire the next 14 batters he would face.

In the first game the Mariners face Hector Santiago they were able to get to him early in the first and make him throw 26 pitches, this time it the M's three innings to finally get to Santiago. After the first two batters got out Brad Miller was able to get on first after a wild pitch third strike, following that Robinson Cano was able to walk on four straight pitches.

Justin Smoak then came up and hit laser shot up the gut which allowed Miller to score with ease and the M's were on the board for the first time at home this season. Corey Hart decided to give the Mariners some more runs but in a loud fashion as he drilled one into Edgar's Cantina to put the Mariners up 4-3.

In the top of the sixth inning a scary moment popped up as Paxton was taken out of the game after experiencing some tightness in his throwing arm. Paxton left the game with what would be diagnosed as a strained lat muscle in his left shoulder. Yoervis Medina was brought in to finish the sixth inning for Paxton. Medina struggled to locate his pitches but was able to strike out Mike Trout and get Freese to ground into an inning ending double play.

Paxton though is scheduled to have an MRI done on his shoulder this Wednesday, Paxton said that "It's just a little strain. I'm going to get an MRI to see what exactly is going on in there, but I just want to be careful right now. My strength is good, they said, so I just want to get it checked out."

If M's fans remember last year Stephen Pryor missed almost the entire 2013 season with a partially torn lat muscle, then had complications when he tried to return. Thankfully Paxton's injury is just a strain and if lucky could miss 1-2 starts but for now we can only hope that his injury isn't too serious.

Getting back to the recap of last night's win Hart added one more home run to his impressive night and added his 4th RBI of the game to boot with a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Hart now leads the team in home runs.

Manager Lloyd McClendon was now counting on his bullpen to keep the Angels hitters at bay. Danny Farqhuar came into the top of the seventh and would pitch 1.1 innings worth of work. Tom Wilhelmsen came in to relieve Farqhuar in the top of the eighth with two outs and got Trout out on strikes. Fernando Rodney was then summoned in the ninth to take aim and shoot his first arrow as a Mariner in Safeco. Rodney would give the fans a scare as he walked the first two batters he saw but settled down and was able to strike out two and get former Mariner Raul Ibanez to fly out to end the game and seal the M's victory.

Tomorrow night the M's have shot to get a two sweep on the Angels, as Roenis Elias takes the mound against Garrett Richards. Elias gave up just one run in his MLB debut but came away with a no decision, this time though I think the umpire will have a different strike zone that will be more consistent then Sean Barber.

Players of the Game: Corey Hart 2-4 2 HR 4 RBI 2 R
                                 Justin Smoak 2-4 RBI R 2B