The Mariners entered tonight with a season high seven game winning streak and only 5 games under .500, so they sent out Erasmo Ramirez to give them a chance at eight straight games. If you remember, in Ramirez's last start against the Boston Red Sox and went only 4.2 innings while giving up 7 earned runs and walking 4, so you know he was looking to have a better outing tonight. Ramirez started things off looking good as he got Michael Bourn to fly out and struck out Nick Swisher; but then Jason Kipnis doubled and Asdrubal Cabrera singled him home and the Indians took the early 1-0 lead. The Mariners in the bottom of the first had some help from the Indians fielders. With two outs and one on Kendrys Morales grounded into what should have been the third out but Kipnis's fielding error allowed Morales to reach first. Kyle Seager then lined one into right field that allowed Nick Franklin to score and tie the game.
Ramirez again started off the inning by getting the first two batters out but then got into trouble, after Lonnie Chisenhall singled Yan Gomes took Ramirez deep for his seventh home run of the year and the Indians took the 3-1 lead. If the Mariners have taught us anything in the past seven games its that they Refuse to Lose and they find ways to come back and tie a game and eventually win the games.
In the bottom of the third inning Raul Ibanez got things started for the M's by driving one to deep left center field and lead things off with a double, Morales followed Ibanez' double with a ground-rule double that scored Ibanez, so the M's now trailed 3-2. Seager was able to line out a single but on the relay to home Morales was cut down trying to score. Michael Saunders two out double allowed Seager to get into third and the Mariners kept the inning alive. With Mike Zunino up Zach McAllister threw a pitch in the dirt that got away that allowed Seager to score easily and the game was now tied at 3-3. Last night Zunino hit the home run that put the M's up 2-1 and so tonight he wanted to be the hero again and he didn't disappoint as he hit a hard ground ball that got through and put the Mariners up 4-3.
Ramirez now had a job to do, keep the Indians from scoring any runs. He did and got two crucial double plays. In the top of the sixth inning Ramirez was relieved of his duty and Yoervis Medina came in. Medina got the final out in the sixth and then went two innings more and was lights out as he only gave up one hit through his 2.1 of work. In the top of the ninth it was closing time, which meant Tom "The Bartender" Wilhelmsen was brought into secure the Mariners their eight consecutive win.
Mark Reynolds lead things off for the Tribe by singling to right field, following that Chisenhall singled and so Mariners fans were beginning to think "Deja vu". After that single though Wilhelmsen got one of the luckiest plays ever as Gomes grounded to Brad Miller and after he tossed it to Franklin at second for the force out and then pinch runner Drew Stubbs was caught in a pickle and was tagged out at home. Thanks to that unusual double play Wilhelmsen faced Michael Bourn. Bourn worked the count to 3-2 and on the sixth pitch of the at bat Wilhelmsen fired a 98 mph in for strike three. As soon as the home plate umpire called that strike fans erupted like the team had just won the pennant.
The Mariners now have won 8 straight games and will go for their third straight sweep tomorrow at 1:10, the M's haven't swept three series in a row since 2001. The win tonight pushes the Mariners to 4 games back of .500, 10 games back in the American League West, and 8.5 games back in the Wild Card.
Showing posts with label Cleveland Indians. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cleveland Indians. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Lucky 7's for the Mariners
Well here we are folks, the Mariners began a 7 game home stretch and came off a sweep of the Houston Astros, along with riding a season high 6 game winning streak, so who better to take the mound and try and help the team get to 7 straight wins then Aaron Harang. Did I just say that? Man, why did it have to be Harang? Well, I guess he's not that bad, except in the top of the first inning he gave up a solo home run to Nick Swisher and the Cleveland Indians took the early 1-0 lead. After Harang got out of the first inning, Ubaldo Jimenez took care of the Mariners in their half of the first. Harang came back out and went 1-2-3 against the Tribe and Jimenez did the same to the M's.
Harang though didn't have an easy third inning. After getting Drew Stubbs to ground out both Michael Bourn and Swisher singled and on Swisher's single Bourn (with his incredible speed) was able to easily mosey into third safely. Harang then pulled himself together and struck out Jason Kipnis and got former Mariner Asdrubal Cabrera to ground out, and so Harangatang escaped the top of the third without surrendering a run. Mike Zunino lead things off for the M's in bottom of the third by taking the first pitch that he saw from Jimenez down the left field line for a lead off double. The Mariners though couldn't get Zunino home and Jimenez pulled off his own Houdini. Harang got into his second jam, Carlos Santana lined a ball down the right field line and thanks to an idiotic Sonics fan, Santana was forced to stay at second. Harang got out of the jam by getting Jason Giambi to pop out to second and then got Lonnie Chisenhall to ground out to Nick Franklin.
Kendrys Morales lead off the bottom of the fourth by driving one off the glass of the Hit It Here Cafe to tie the game up at 1. Zunino lead off the bottom of the fifth with his first home run at Safeco Field to put the M's ahead 2-1. After that, Harang took over and pitched into the seventh inning without allowing another run or hit, as he retired the last nine batters he faced. Charlie Furbush then was brought into the top of the eighth inning, he hit Michael Bourn to begin the inning but came back and struck out Nick Swisher, picked off Bourn, and finally got Jason Kipnis to ground out to end the eighth inning for the Tribe.
Now, if you remember back in May all Tom Wilhelmsen needed to do was hang onto the ball and he would have saved the game for the M's, but unfortunately he didn't and the M's lost 10-8 to the Tribe. This time out though, Tommy Boy allowed two runners one with two outs but managed to escape the jam and save his 22nd game of the year and secure the Mariners their seventh straight win. Tonight Erasmo Ramirez will take the mound after an impressive start in Everett, he'll try and go for his first win of the season and help the team get to eight wins in a row. The Mariners enter tonight's game only 5 games under .500, 11 games back of first in the AL West, and 9.5 games back of second place in the Wild Card.
Harang though didn't have an easy third inning. After getting Drew Stubbs to ground out both Michael Bourn and Swisher singled and on Swisher's single Bourn (with his incredible speed) was able to easily mosey into third safely. Harang then pulled himself together and struck out Jason Kipnis and got former Mariner Asdrubal Cabrera to ground out, and so Harangatang escaped the top of the third without surrendering a run. Mike Zunino lead things off for the M's in bottom of the third by taking the first pitch that he saw from Jimenez down the left field line for a lead off double. The Mariners though couldn't get Zunino home and Jimenez pulled off his own Houdini. Harang got into his second jam, Carlos Santana lined a ball down the right field line and thanks to an idiotic Sonics fan, Santana was forced to stay at second. Harang got out of the jam by getting Jason Giambi to pop out to second and then got Lonnie Chisenhall to ground out to Nick Franklin.
Kendrys Morales lead off the bottom of the fourth by driving one off the glass of the Hit It Here Cafe to tie the game up at 1. Zunino lead off the bottom of the fifth with his first home run at Safeco Field to put the M's ahead 2-1. After that, Harang took over and pitched into the seventh inning without allowing another run or hit, as he retired the last nine batters he faced. Charlie Furbush then was brought into the top of the eighth inning, he hit Michael Bourn to begin the inning but came back and struck out Nick Swisher, picked off Bourn, and finally got Jason Kipnis to ground out to end the eighth inning for the Tribe.
Now, if you remember back in May all Tom Wilhelmsen needed to do was hang onto the ball and he would have saved the game for the M's, but unfortunately he didn't and the M's lost 10-8 to the Tribe. This time out though, Tommy Boy allowed two runners one with two outs but managed to escape the jam and save his 22nd game of the year and secure the Mariners their seventh straight win. Tonight Erasmo Ramirez will take the mound after an impressive start in Everett, he'll try and go for his first win of the season and help the team get to eight wins in a row. The Mariners enter tonight's game only 5 games under .500, 11 games back of first in the AL West, and 9.5 games back of second place in the Wild Card.
Friday, June 14, 2013
Seattle and its champion teams
Seattle has yet to see an Super Bowl, World Series, or an MLS Cup brought home by the Mariners, Seahawks, and Sounders. Seattle has only seen the 1979 Supersonics and the 2004 and 2010 Storm bring home a major championship (though I wouldn't consider the WNBA a real championship). The Mariners have been the team that has shown the least hope that another title will be brought to the city of Seattle. During the 90s the Mariners saw two American League West titles. In '95 the Mariners had that amazing Refuse To Lose run to the AL West title. The Mariners beat the then California Angels in a one game playoff to take the title and then after being down 0-2 in the American League Division Series the Mariners came home for games 3,4, and 5 and swept the Yankees moving on to face the winningest ball club that year for the American League Pennant. The Mariners would lose to the Cleveland Indians in 6 games but the team was proud of what they accomplished that year. Two years later in 1997 the team would win a then team record 90 games, lead the American League in runs and break the season record for homeruns by one team, Ken Griffey, Jr., would win his first and only MVP. The Mariners would go into the '97 ALDS to play the Baltimore Orioles and would be embarrassed in 4 games.
The Mariners would begin the 2000s on a nice touch, the team would win their first American League Wild Card title and would sweep the Chicago White Sox in 3 games but would fall to the New York Yankees in 6 games. The next year would see the Mariners win a MLB record 116 games and would have to go the full 5 games against the Cleveland Indians but would fall to the Yankees for the second year in a row and would be humiliated as the team to win 116 games and not make it to the World Series. The next two year would see the Mariners win 93 games in each seasons but failed to win the Wild Card and the AL West. Since then the Mariners have not made the playoffs. Now in my opinion the Mariners are within 2-3 years of making the playoffs so be patient M's fans.
Now, lets talk about the Seahawks. The Seahawks came close in 2005 to bringing the Lombardi Trophy to Seattle but was swiped up by the Steelers. The Seahawks have made the playoffs 12 times and have come very close several times to either going or winning the Super Bowl. 1983 the Seahawks made it to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history and made a run that had everyone saying "Super Bowl champs". The Seahawks beat the Denver Broncos in the Wild Card game, they then beat the Miami Dolphins in the Divisional round but then they would fall short of the Super Bowl as they would lose to the eventual Super Bowl champs Los Angeles Raiders. Last year the Seahawks made a great one in the playoffs, they would win their first road playoff game since '83 but would lose to the Atlanta Falcons. Now, I know this is our year to win the Super Bowl, they are the favorite to win it all and I see plenty of Vince Lombardi Trophies in the Seahawks future.
So now we move on to the Sounders. Since the Sounders have been in existence they have made the playoffs every year but they have brought 3 US Open Cups home to Seattle. The Sounders won their first playoff series last year against Real Salt Lake but fell to the LA Galaxy. So far this year they are not showing their good stuff. They lost in the US Open Cup in the third round and if the season ended they would play the Galaxy in the MLS Cup Knockout round. If the Sounders want to see an MLS Cup brought to this city they have to get better on defense and offense.
Well, there's my brief summary of the teams in Seattle and its history in the playoffs.
The Mariners would begin the 2000s on a nice touch, the team would win their first American League Wild Card title and would sweep the Chicago White Sox in 3 games but would fall to the New York Yankees in 6 games. The next year would see the Mariners win a MLB record 116 games and would have to go the full 5 games against the Cleveland Indians but would fall to the Yankees for the second year in a row and would be humiliated as the team to win 116 games and not make it to the World Series. The next two year would see the Mariners win 93 games in each seasons but failed to win the Wild Card and the AL West. Since then the Mariners have not made the playoffs. Now in my opinion the Mariners are within 2-3 years of making the playoffs so be patient M's fans.
Now, lets talk about the Seahawks. The Seahawks came close in 2005 to bringing the Lombardi Trophy to Seattle but was swiped up by the Steelers. The Seahawks have made the playoffs 12 times and have come very close several times to either going or winning the Super Bowl. 1983 the Seahawks made it to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history and made a run that had everyone saying "Super Bowl champs". The Seahawks beat the Denver Broncos in the Wild Card game, they then beat the Miami Dolphins in the Divisional round but then they would fall short of the Super Bowl as they would lose to the eventual Super Bowl champs Los Angeles Raiders. Last year the Seahawks made a great one in the playoffs, they would win their first road playoff game since '83 but would lose to the Atlanta Falcons. Now, I know this is our year to win the Super Bowl, they are the favorite to win it all and I see plenty of Vince Lombardi Trophies in the Seahawks future.
So now we move on to the Sounders. Since the Sounders have been in existence they have made the playoffs every year but they have brought 3 US Open Cups home to Seattle. The Sounders won their first playoff series last year against Real Salt Lake but fell to the LA Galaxy. So far this year they are not showing their good stuff. They lost in the US Open Cup in the third round and if the season ended they would play the Galaxy in the MLS Cup Knockout round. If the Sounders want to see an MLS Cup brought to this city they have to get better on defense and offense.
Well, there's my brief summary of the teams in Seattle and its history in the playoffs.
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About Me
Im a huge Seattle sports nut. Thats basically about me. But im an upcoming blogger who writes only about the Mariners, Seahawks, Sounders, and when they come back the Sonics. Now if you would like me to write about something tweet me and i will write it. Now i should mark that im also Irish and have a beard that is feared above Brian Wilson's beard. His beard can kiss my beard's ass!