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
Showing posts with label Los Angeles Angels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Los Angeles Angels. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Mariners tee off to sweep the Angels
The Mariners were unable to take batting practice today because of the weather, so they decided to take their batting practice during the game. The Mariners finished off their first sweep of the season of the Angels with an 8-2 win thanks to the strength of 3 home runs and a spectacular pitching performance by James Paxton. Justin Smoak added his second home run of the season late in the game and Corey Hart hit his first Mariner home run of the season right after Smoak. Stefen Romero added his first hit and RBI in the majors as he went 2-3 tonight. The Mariners also added 4 more 2-out RBIs giving them 18 for the season.
The game got off to a rough start for both starting pitchers. Hector Santiago made his Angels debut, but he began his night off by having difficulty locating his pitches as he walked Abraham Almonte and Robinson Cano. Although the Mariners would not score in the inning, Santiago managed to strike out Brad Miller and Smoak and got Hart to fly out to end the threat.
Paxton also had difficulty locating his pitches in the bottom of the first. Thankfully after giving up a lead off double to Kole Calhoun and walking Mike Trout, he got Albert Pujols to ground into a double play and then got David Freese to line out to Almonte to end the threat.
The Mariners would strike first in the top of the third inning. With two out Miller got things started with a hustling double, after that Cano singled up the middle and Miller hustled around to score to give Cano his first RBI as a Mariner. Things would be quiet for both teams for a couple innings. Paxton stole the show though. After a rough first inning he would strikeout 5 batters through the next 4 innings, and even though the home plate umpire had an inconsistent strike zone Paxton still found a way to strike guys out.
In the top of the fifth inning the Mariners would add another run to the box score. After Zunino lead off with a single and Willie Bloomquist walked Almonte grounded into a double play but Miller hit soft line drive to left which allowed Bloomquist to score. So the M's took a 2-0 lead after 5 innings.
The sixth inning was the big inning for the Mariners. After back-to-back singles by Smoak and Hart Angels manager Mike Scioscia came out to end Santiago's night. Fernando Salas was brought in to face Romero, who got his first MLB hit 2 innings ago, this time Romero decided to hit a laser down the left field line that scored Smoak and so the M's now had a 3-0 lead. After Ackley grounded out Zunino came up and blasted his first home run of the season and put the Mariners up 6-0.
Mariners would get two more runs in the top of the ninth inning with two outs. Smoak and Hart went back-to-back and the Mariners cushion on the Angels was now 8-0. Hector Noesi was brought in to finish the game for the M's, though his one inning of work wouldn't be easy as he gave up two runs but managed to get the last three outs to secure the Mariners first sweep of the season and their first sweep against the Angels since 2006.
The Mariners begin the season 3-0 for the first time since their "Refuse To Lose" 1995 season, they now will make the trip to Oakland for a four game match up against the defending AL West Champs.
Roenis Elias is set to make his major league debut in the series opener against the Athletics, he will face Jesse Chavez who is making his first start in the majors since June 24, 2012. The Mariners will look to continue their hot start in Oakland by continuing to drive in runs with two outs but the last time a Mariner pitcher made his MLB debut against the A's, Brandon Maurer got rocked for six runs so Elias will look to have a better outing than Maurer did.
Players of the Game: James Paxton 7 IP 2 H 0 R 0 ER 9 Ks
Mike Zunino 2-4 1 R HR 3 RBI
Justin Smoak 2-5 2 R HR 1 RBI
Corey Hart 2-5 2 R HR 1 RBI
NOTES: Mike Trout went 2-3 in last night's game whereas the rest of the Angels team went 1-26. Out of the 26 runs the Mariners scored in the 3 game series against the Angels 18 of them came with 2 outs. The Mariners also finished the series going 12-28 with runners in scoring position.
The game got off to a rough start for both starting pitchers. Hector Santiago made his Angels debut, but he began his night off by having difficulty locating his pitches as he walked Abraham Almonte and Robinson Cano. Although the Mariners would not score in the inning, Santiago managed to strike out Brad Miller and Smoak and got Hart to fly out to end the threat.
Paxton also had difficulty locating his pitches in the bottom of the first. Thankfully after giving up a lead off double to Kole Calhoun and walking Mike Trout, he got Albert Pujols to ground into a double play and then got David Freese to line out to Almonte to end the threat.
The Mariners would strike first in the top of the third inning. With two out Miller got things started with a hustling double, after that Cano singled up the middle and Miller hustled around to score to give Cano his first RBI as a Mariner. Things would be quiet for both teams for a couple innings. Paxton stole the show though. After a rough first inning he would strikeout 5 batters through the next 4 innings, and even though the home plate umpire had an inconsistent strike zone Paxton still found a way to strike guys out.
In the top of the fifth inning the Mariners would add another run to the box score. After Zunino lead off with a single and Willie Bloomquist walked Almonte grounded into a double play but Miller hit soft line drive to left which allowed Bloomquist to score. So the M's took a 2-0 lead after 5 innings.
The sixth inning was the big inning for the Mariners. After back-to-back singles by Smoak and Hart Angels manager Mike Scioscia came out to end Santiago's night. Fernando Salas was brought in to face Romero, who got his first MLB hit 2 innings ago, this time Romero decided to hit a laser down the left field line that scored Smoak and so the M's now had a 3-0 lead. After Ackley grounded out Zunino came up and blasted his first home run of the season and put the Mariners up 6-0.
Mariners would get two more runs in the top of the ninth inning with two outs. Smoak and Hart went back-to-back and the Mariners cushion on the Angels was now 8-0. Hector Noesi was brought in to finish the game for the M's, though his one inning of work wouldn't be easy as he gave up two runs but managed to get the last three outs to secure the Mariners first sweep of the season and their first sweep against the Angels since 2006.
The Mariners begin the season 3-0 for the first time since their "Refuse To Lose" 1995 season, they now will make the trip to Oakland for a four game match up against the defending AL West Champs.
Roenis Elias is set to make his major league debut in the series opener against the Athletics, he will face Jesse Chavez who is making his first start in the majors since June 24, 2012. The Mariners will look to continue their hot start in Oakland by continuing to drive in runs with two outs but the last time a Mariner pitcher made his MLB debut against the A's, Brandon Maurer got rocked for six runs so Elias will look to have a better outing than Maurer did.
Players of the Game: James Paxton 7 IP 2 H 0 R 0 ER 9 Ks
Mike Zunino 2-4 1 R HR 3 RBI
Justin Smoak 2-5 2 R HR 1 RBI
Corey Hart 2-5 2 R HR 1 RBI
NOTES: Mike Trout went 2-3 in last night's game whereas the rest of the Angels team went 1-26. Out of the 26 runs the Mariners scored in the 3 game series against the Angels 18 of them came with 2 outs. The Mariners also finished the series going 12-28 with runners in scoring position.
Smoakin hot Mariners off to 2-0 start
Last night during the 6 run ninth inning I was thinking to myself "OK Mariners save some runs and hits for tomorrow".......what I didn't know was that they already saved up some runs and hits for tonight. Justin Smoak and Brad Miller lead the way for the Mariners as they helped Erasmo Ramirez earn his first win both in the season and against the Angels. The Mariners red hot offense pushed 8 more runs tonight against C.J. Wilson and the Angels and moved to 2-0. Stefen Romero made his major league debut tonight along with Corey Hart and John Buck making their Mariners debut.
The Mariners got the scoring going in the top of the third. After Romero flew out to lead off the inning both Dustin Ackley and Buck singled, Abraham Almonte would then double home Ackley and so the Mariners drew first blood in this game. M's weren't done, with two outs Wilson intentionally walked Robinson Cano and Smoak decided to make him pay by drilling one into left center field that cleared the bases and so the M's hammered Wilson for four runs in the third.
In the bottom of the fourth the Angels got their two cents in, and by two cents I mean two runs thanks to Raul Ibanez's first home run of the season and so the M's lead was cut to just 2 runs.
That lead would be put to 3 runs thanks to "Crazy legs" Miller, as he hit his first round tripper of the season and his first home run off a left handed pitcher. Hart lead off the top half of the sixth inning with his first hit as a Mariner then two outs later Ackley provided another 2-out RBI for the Mariners by hitting his first extra base hit of the season with a double.
Ramirez provided the M's with another great pitching performance. Ramirez went 7 strong innings and struck out 6 Angel hitters. Tom Wilhelmsen was brought in for Ramirez in the bottom of the eighth inning and this time Tommy Boy didn't have the success he had last night. Though the Bartender didn't seem to have control problems but the defense made a mistake that would allow a run to score, Lloyd McClendon then decided to bring in Joe Beimel for his Mariner debut. Beimel didn't even need to throw a pitch to get out of the inning as he picked off David Freese to end the inning.
Miller added two more runs in the top of the ninth inning. Ackley lead off the inning with a walk and 2-outs (yes again) Miller literally destroyed the first pitch he saw into the right field seat for his second homer of the game and his fourth multi home run game in his career. Fernando Rodney was then brought in for his Mariner debut in the ninth, man last night saw a lot of players making their Mariner debut. Getting back to the game, Rodney only allowed a lead off single to Ibanez after which he struck out Howie Kendrick and got Hank Croger to ground into a game ending double play.
So, last night saw a lot of first's. Four players made their Mariner debut, Romero made his MLB debut, and Rodney fired the first arrow of the season. All and all it was one great game to watch as the Mariners put their 1st place record to 2-0.
The M's will look to go 3-0 for the first time since 1995.......hmm wasn't that a good year? I cant remember anyways the M's will send James Paxton out for his season debut.
Players of the Game: Erasmo Ramirez 7 IP 6 H 2 R 2 ER 6 K
Justin Smoak 2-4 2B 3 RBIs
Brad Miller 2-5 2 HRs 3 RBIs 2 R
NOTES: The Mariners hot start is thank not just for 18 runs but for how those runs have been scored. The M's in two game are 8-29 with runners in scoring position and 14 of those runs have come with 2 outs. Brad Miller's 2 home run game was his 4th in his career.
The Mariners got the scoring going in the top of the third. After Romero flew out to lead off the inning both Dustin Ackley and Buck singled, Abraham Almonte would then double home Ackley and so the Mariners drew first blood in this game. M's weren't done, with two outs Wilson intentionally walked Robinson Cano and Smoak decided to make him pay by drilling one into left center field that cleared the bases and so the M's hammered Wilson for four runs in the third.
In the bottom of the fourth the Angels got their two cents in, and by two cents I mean two runs thanks to Raul Ibanez's first home run of the season and so the M's lead was cut to just 2 runs.
That lead would be put to 3 runs thanks to "Crazy legs" Miller, as he hit his first round tripper of the season and his first home run off a left handed pitcher. Hart lead off the top half of the sixth inning with his first hit as a Mariner then two outs later Ackley provided another 2-out RBI for the Mariners by hitting his first extra base hit of the season with a double.
Ramirez provided the M's with another great pitching performance. Ramirez went 7 strong innings and struck out 6 Angel hitters. Tom Wilhelmsen was brought in for Ramirez in the bottom of the eighth inning and this time Tommy Boy didn't have the success he had last night. Though the Bartender didn't seem to have control problems but the defense made a mistake that would allow a run to score, Lloyd McClendon then decided to bring in Joe Beimel for his Mariner debut. Beimel didn't even need to throw a pitch to get out of the inning as he picked off David Freese to end the inning.
Miller added two more runs in the top of the ninth inning. Ackley lead off the inning with a walk and 2-outs (yes again) Miller literally destroyed the first pitch he saw into the right field seat for his second homer of the game and his fourth multi home run game in his career. Fernando Rodney was then brought in for his Mariner debut in the ninth, man last night saw a lot of players making their Mariner debut. Getting back to the game, Rodney only allowed a lead off single to Ibanez after which he struck out Howie Kendrick and got Hank Croger to ground into a game ending double play.
So, last night saw a lot of first's. Four players made their Mariner debut, Romero made his MLB debut, and Rodney fired the first arrow of the season. All and all it was one great game to watch as the Mariners put their 1st place record to 2-0.
The M's will look to go 3-0 for the first time since 1995.......hmm wasn't that a good year? I cant remember anyways the M's will send James Paxton out for his season debut.
Players of the Game: Erasmo Ramirez 7 IP 6 H 2 R 2 ER 6 K
Justin Smoak 2-4 2B 3 RBIs
Brad Miller 2-5 2 HRs 3 RBIs 2 R
NOTES: The Mariners hot start is thank not just for 18 runs but for how those runs have been scored. The M's in two game are 8-29 with runners in scoring position and 14 of those runs have come with 2 outs. Brad Miller's 2 home run game was his 4th in his career.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Mariners finish the first half with a sweep
Well, I forgot to post a recap blog on the Mariners 6-0 win last night so I'll be writing a two day recap on last night's win and today's game. Last night the Mariners sent out King Felix Hernandez who would be pitching to try and get his tenth win of the year. Felix pitched a brilliant game going eight shutout innings, things started off well for him as he went 1-2-3 in the top of the first. The Angels sent out their ace Jered Weaver who was looking for his third win in a row, his night started off the same as Felix's except Raul Ibanez hit a ground rule double but that was all the Mariners would get in the bottom of the first inning. Ibanez extended his hitting streak with that double to three games.
Felix began the top of the second inning by striking out Josh Hamilton but Howie Kendrick got the Angles first his with a single; Felix then got Mark Trumbo to fly out to Dustin Ackley in center, Alberto Callaspo then singled to left to put runners at second and first with only one out, but Felix got one of his classic get-out-of-jam double play as he got Hank Conger to ground into a 1-6-3 double play. Weaver got out of the bottom of the second inning with a double play of his own, Justin Smoak was hit by a pitch and then Michael Saunders extended his hitting streak to six games with a one out single, Weaver got Zunino to ground into that double play I told you about to end the Mariners half of the second inning. Felix gave up a two out triple to Mike Trout in the third inning but got Albert Pujols to strikeout. The Mariners got to Weaver in the bottom of the fourth inning, with one out both Kendrys Morales and Kyle Seager got on with back-to-back singles; Seager extended his hitting streak to 13 games with that single, Smoak then battled Weaver in a 10 pitch at bat that ended with Smoak singling home Morales to give the Mariners the 1-0 lead.
The Mariners in the bottom of the sixth inning created some déjà vu as Morales and Seager hit back-to-back singles to bring up Smoak, but this time Smoak only looked at one pitch and drove it over the center field wall to give the Mariners the 4-0 lead and extending the team streak to 21 games with a home-run. In the bottom of the seventh inning the Mariners started things off with Zunino walking and Ackley singled and with one out Scott Downs threw a wild pitch that allowed Zunino to score and the Mariners went ahead 5-0. After Nick Franklin walked, Ibanez added an extra run for the M's as he singled home Ackley and so the Mariners gave Felix a 6-0 lead. After the eighth inning Yoervis Medina was brought in for Felix to shut the door on the Angels, Medina got a 1-2-3 inning and struck out two batters. So the Mariners won both the series and their 42nd game of the year.
So, with last night done today the Mariners sent out their second All Star pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma to try and get his first win in six starts and help the Mariners get their first sweep of the year. Iwakuma got an easy 1-2-3 first inning to start off his day, in the top of the second inning Iwakuma had another easy inning as he only gave up a one out double to Kendrick but didn't allow a run. The Mariners started off their half of the second inning with Justin Smoak getting a one out opposite field single. Michael Saunders then extended his hitting streak to seven games by hitting his sixth home-run of the year. Saunders not only gave the M's the 2-0 lead but extended the team's streak of hitting a home-run in consecutive games to 22. In the bottom of the fourth Seager extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a lead off single. After Smoak walked Saunders flied out to Trout in center, Seager then tagged up from second to third on the play and then Zunino drove in Seager with a sacrifice fly, so the Mariners took the 3-0 lead.
Mark Trumbo lead off the top of the fifth inning by hitting his 21st home-run of the year and got the Angels on the board. The Mariners added another run in their half of the fifth inning; Brad Miller lead off the inning with a single and after Franklin drew his second walk of the day Ibanez drove in Miller with a double for his 56th RBI of the year. Michael Kohn was brought into the game to try and get out of the jam Joe Blanton created, he started things off by striking out Morales, he intentionally walked Seager and then struck out both Smoak and Saunders to end the threat by the Mariners. Trailing 4-1 in the top of the sixth Trout started things off for the Angels with a lead off single, Iwakuma got the next two batters out but after that Kendrick doubled to put runners at second and third, he intentionally walked Trumbo to bring up Callaspo who singled to right field that brought scored Trout and Kendrick. Iwakuma got out of the jam by striking out Chris Iannetta to end the inning.
Iwakuma finished off his day by having a 1-2-3 top of the seventh inning, after that Charlie Furbush was brought in for the 42nd appearance of the season and after allowing a lead off double to Albert Pujols he got Josh Hamilton to pop out, Kendrick to line out, and then got a huge strikeout of Trumbo to end the inning. Tom Whilhelmsen was brought into the ninth to try and save his 19th game of the year and secure the Mariners first sweep of the year. Wilhelmsen went 1-2-3 and the Mariners got their first sweep of the year and their first sweep of the Angels since 2006. The Mariners finished off the first half of the season nine games under .500, 13 games back of first place in the AL West, and 11 games back for second place in the Wild Card. The Mariners will begin the second half of the season in Houston against the Astros.
Felix began the top of the second inning by striking out Josh Hamilton but Howie Kendrick got the Angles first his with a single; Felix then got Mark Trumbo to fly out to Dustin Ackley in center, Alberto Callaspo then singled to left to put runners at second and first with only one out, but Felix got one of his classic get-out-of-jam double play as he got Hank Conger to ground into a 1-6-3 double play. Weaver got out of the bottom of the second inning with a double play of his own, Justin Smoak was hit by a pitch and then Michael Saunders extended his hitting streak to six games with a one out single, Weaver got Zunino to ground into that double play I told you about to end the Mariners half of the second inning. Felix gave up a two out triple to Mike Trout in the third inning but got Albert Pujols to strikeout. The Mariners got to Weaver in the bottom of the fourth inning, with one out both Kendrys Morales and Kyle Seager got on with back-to-back singles; Seager extended his hitting streak to 13 games with that single, Smoak then battled Weaver in a 10 pitch at bat that ended with Smoak singling home Morales to give the Mariners the 1-0 lead.
The Mariners in the bottom of the sixth inning created some déjà vu as Morales and Seager hit back-to-back singles to bring up Smoak, but this time Smoak only looked at one pitch and drove it over the center field wall to give the Mariners the 4-0 lead and extending the team streak to 21 games with a home-run. In the bottom of the seventh inning the Mariners started things off with Zunino walking and Ackley singled and with one out Scott Downs threw a wild pitch that allowed Zunino to score and the Mariners went ahead 5-0. After Nick Franklin walked, Ibanez added an extra run for the M's as he singled home Ackley and so the Mariners gave Felix a 6-0 lead. After the eighth inning Yoervis Medina was brought in for Felix to shut the door on the Angels, Medina got a 1-2-3 inning and struck out two batters. So the Mariners won both the series and their 42nd game of the year.
So, with last night done today the Mariners sent out their second All Star pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma to try and get his first win in six starts and help the Mariners get their first sweep of the year. Iwakuma got an easy 1-2-3 first inning to start off his day, in the top of the second inning Iwakuma had another easy inning as he only gave up a one out double to Kendrick but didn't allow a run. The Mariners started off their half of the second inning with Justin Smoak getting a one out opposite field single. Michael Saunders then extended his hitting streak to seven games by hitting his sixth home-run of the year. Saunders not only gave the M's the 2-0 lead but extended the team's streak of hitting a home-run in consecutive games to 22. In the bottom of the fourth Seager extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a lead off single. After Smoak walked Saunders flied out to Trout in center, Seager then tagged up from second to third on the play and then Zunino drove in Seager with a sacrifice fly, so the Mariners took the 3-0 lead.
Mark Trumbo lead off the top of the fifth inning by hitting his 21st home-run of the year and got the Angels on the board. The Mariners added another run in their half of the fifth inning; Brad Miller lead off the inning with a single and after Franklin drew his second walk of the day Ibanez drove in Miller with a double for his 56th RBI of the year. Michael Kohn was brought into the game to try and get out of the jam Joe Blanton created, he started things off by striking out Morales, he intentionally walked Seager and then struck out both Smoak and Saunders to end the threat by the Mariners. Trailing 4-1 in the top of the sixth Trout started things off for the Angels with a lead off single, Iwakuma got the next two batters out but after that Kendrick doubled to put runners at second and third, he intentionally walked Trumbo to bring up Callaspo who singled to right field that brought scored Trout and Kendrick. Iwakuma got out of the jam by striking out Chris Iannetta to end the inning.
Iwakuma finished off his day by having a 1-2-3 top of the seventh inning, after that Charlie Furbush was brought in for the 42nd appearance of the season and after allowing a lead off double to Albert Pujols he got Josh Hamilton to pop out, Kendrick to line out, and then got a huge strikeout of Trumbo to end the inning. Tom Whilhelmsen was brought into the ninth to try and save his 19th game of the year and secure the Mariners first sweep of the year. Wilhelmsen went 1-2-3 and the Mariners got their first sweep of the year and their first sweep of the Angels since 2006. The Mariners finished off the first half of the season nine games under .500, 13 games back of first place in the AL West, and 11 games back for second place in the Wild Card. The Mariners will begin the second half of the season in Houston against the Astros.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Mariners slugfest too much for the Halos
With the Red Sox out of Seattle the Mariners were looking to have better success against their American League West rival. Safeco Joe Saunders took to the mound looking for his first win against his former team and looked to win his third game in a row. Saunders had an easy start to his night as he threw 15 pitches in the first inning. After Brad Miller grounded out Michael Saunders singled up the middle. Raul Ibanez continued his amazing season as he lined the ball into right center field that allowed Michael to score and on the relay to home Ibanez was thrown out trying to extend his double into a triple, so the Mariners took the 1-0 lead once again. Safeco Joe got into a jam in the top of the second inning, things went a little south after Joe gave up doubles to both Mark Trumbo and Alberto Callaspo. Joe caught a break on the second double as Justin Smoak couldn't catch the pop out, when the ball finally landed Trumbo tagged up from second and got in safely to third.
Safeco Joe got out of the inning by striking out Chris Iannetta and Collin Cowgill, so the Angels left both runners on and Joe escaped without surrendering a run. Kyle Seager lead off the bottom of the second by extending both his hitting streak to 13 games and the Mariners streak of hitting a homerun in consecutive games to 20 with his 15th homerun of the year. Thanks to Seager's homerun the Mariners took the 2-0 lead after two innings. The Mariners opened up a can of whooping in the bottom of the fourth inning as Ibanez lead things off by sending his 24th homerun of the year into the Hit It Here Café, his homer measured an impressive 438ft. Kendrys Morales singled up the middle and following that Seager drew an eight pitch walk. After Smoak flew out for the first out of the inning Mike Zunino put the Mariners up 4-0 with an RBI single to left, next Dustin Ackley hit a perfect ground ball into center field that allowed Seager to come in and score to put the Mariners up 5-0.
After Ackley's single manager Mike Scioscia had seen enough and relieved Jerome Williams and brought in Garrett Richards to try and stop the bleeding. On only the second pitch Richards threw one in the dirt that bounced behind the plate and allowed Zunino to score and Ackley moved up to second. Richards recovered and struck out Brendan Ryan and Miller to end the inning, so after four innings the Mariners had a comfortable 6-0 lead. Safeco Joe kept the Angels at bay by not surrendering a run for the rest of his start. Saunders threw seven shutout innings and struck out 5 batters. Saunders had 101 entering the seventh inning and finished his night off with an eight pitch 1-2-3 inning. Ibanez added another run for the Mariners in the bottom of the seventh inning by hitting his second homerun of the night, Morales followed up Ibanez' homerun with a homerun of his own so the Mariners took the 8-0 lead.
Danny Farquhar came in the top of the eighth inning. Farquhar's relief appearance went south very quickly, the first batter he faced was Erick Aybar and lined one to Seager at third and thanks to a bad bounce Seager couldn't handle the ground ball so Aybar legged out the infield single. Mike Trout then tripled home the Angels first run of the game and after a mound visit Albert Pujols singled home Trout to put the score at 8-2. After Farquhar struck out Howie Kendrick manager Eric Wedge decided to bring in a left hander to throw to Josh Hamilton. Lucas Luetge came in and threw only two pitches and gave up a double to Hamilton after that Wedge made another pitching change to try and get out of a potential disastrous inning. Yoervis Medina came in and got the final two outs but allowed the third run to come in and score. Medina would come back out in the ninth and got a 1-2-3 inning to finish the game off.
NOTES: The Mariners put their record to 41-52 and Joe Saunders put his record to 8-8. Tomorrow Felix Hernandez will take the mound and go against Jered Weaver. Hernandez does not have a great record when going up against Weaver as he is 1-6 when pitching against Weaver. Weaver will look to win his third game in a row.
Safeco Joe got out of the inning by striking out Chris Iannetta and Collin Cowgill, so the Angels left both runners on and Joe escaped without surrendering a run. Kyle Seager lead off the bottom of the second by extending both his hitting streak to 13 games and the Mariners streak of hitting a homerun in consecutive games to 20 with his 15th homerun of the year. Thanks to Seager's homerun the Mariners took the 2-0 lead after two innings. The Mariners opened up a can of whooping in the bottom of the fourth inning as Ibanez lead things off by sending his 24th homerun of the year into the Hit It Here Café, his homer measured an impressive 438ft. Kendrys Morales singled up the middle and following that Seager drew an eight pitch walk. After Smoak flew out for the first out of the inning Mike Zunino put the Mariners up 4-0 with an RBI single to left, next Dustin Ackley hit a perfect ground ball into center field that allowed Seager to come in and score to put the Mariners up 5-0.
After Ackley's single manager Mike Scioscia had seen enough and relieved Jerome Williams and brought in Garrett Richards to try and stop the bleeding. On only the second pitch Richards threw one in the dirt that bounced behind the plate and allowed Zunino to score and Ackley moved up to second. Richards recovered and struck out Brendan Ryan and Miller to end the inning, so after four innings the Mariners had a comfortable 6-0 lead. Safeco Joe kept the Angels at bay by not surrendering a run for the rest of his start. Saunders threw seven shutout innings and struck out 5 batters. Saunders had 101 entering the seventh inning and finished his night off with an eight pitch 1-2-3 inning. Ibanez added another run for the Mariners in the bottom of the seventh inning by hitting his second homerun of the night, Morales followed up Ibanez' homerun with a homerun of his own so the Mariners took the 8-0 lead.
Danny Farquhar came in the top of the eighth inning. Farquhar's relief appearance went south very quickly, the first batter he faced was Erick Aybar and lined one to Seager at third and thanks to a bad bounce Seager couldn't handle the ground ball so Aybar legged out the infield single. Mike Trout then tripled home the Angels first run of the game and after a mound visit Albert Pujols singled home Trout to put the score at 8-2. After Farquhar struck out Howie Kendrick manager Eric Wedge decided to bring in a left hander to throw to Josh Hamilton. Lucas Luetge came in and threw only two pitches and gave up a double to Hamilton after that Wedge made another pitching change to try and get out of a potential disastrous inning. Yoervis Medina came in and got the final two outs but allowed the third run to come in and score. Medina would come back out in the ninth and got a 1-2-3 inning to finish the game off.
NOTES: The Mariners put their record to 41-52 and Joe Saunders put his record to 8-8. Tomorrow Felix Hernandez will take the mound and go against Jered Weaver. Hernandez does not have a great record when going up against Weaver as he is 1-6 when pitching against Weaver. Weaver will look to win his third game in a row.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Morales's wins it for the Mariners
Jeremy Bonderman looked to go out and win his first game since his second start. The Mariners would begin the game off on an ok note, Nick Franklin got the first hit of the game and then later stole second base but the Mariners couldn't push Franklin home to take the first inning lead. Mike Trout would start off the inning for the Angels with a lead off single on his giveaway night. The Angels gave out a Mike Trout fishhat and I have to say it was the stupidest giveaway ever.......of all time. This giveaway was even dumber then the Mariners goofy glasses night they had back in the 80s. Josh Hamilton would help out the Mariners by grounding out into a double play and following that Albert Pujols grounded out to end the inning.
Raul Ibanez lead off the top of the second off with his fourteenth homerun of the year, following that Justin Smoak, who was recalled from Triple A, didn't wait and swung on the first pitch and hit his fourth homerun of the year. Mike Scioscia thought that a fan reached over and grabbed the ball over the railing so the umpires reviewed the play. After a few minutes the umps agreed that it was a homerun so the Mariners took the 2-0 lead.
The Mariners wouldn't get another run in that inning and in the bottom of the third inning Mark Trumbo would hurt the Mariners again with a lead off homerun for his sixteenth homerun of the year. With two outs the Angels looked like they would score another run, as Eric Aybar singled and Hank Conger walked, but thankfully Bonderman was able to get Peter Bourjos grounded one back to Bonderman to end the inning. Trout would lead off the third inning again with a single but thankfully Hamilton grounded into his second double play of the night and Pujols grounded out to end the inning.
Mike Zunino would double in the fourth inning with two outs, Michael Saunders would walk to put runners on for Brendan Ryan. Ryan would strike out to end the inning for the Mariners. In the bottom of the fifth inning Bonderman would get into a jam but got help from Josh Hamilton again as he grounded into his third double play of the night and the inning would end there. Saunders lead off the top of the seventh inning off with a single to put an insurance runner on. Brendan Ryan failed to move Saunders over as he popped an attempted bunt up in foul ground and Conger was able to run it down for the first out.
Saunders was able to swipe his tenth stolen base but Endy Chavez wasn't able to connect with the ball and struck out. Franklin was able to draw a two out walk but Kyle Seager struck out to end the threat for the Mariners in the seventh inning. Oliver Perez was brought in the bottom of the seventh inning for Bonderman, Chris Iannetta drew the lead off walk. Perez was able to bounce back and get Bourjos to line out and got both Trout and Hamilton to strikeout.
Tom Wilhelmsen was brought in the bottom of the eighth inning and didn't start off on a good note as Pujols blasted away not only the game tying homerun but Bonderman's second win of the season. Wilhelmsen would go 1-2-3 after that but in the bottom of the ninth Tommy boy would allow a lead off base hit and walk the second batter, he was able to strikeout Bourjos and get Trout to fly out and after that Eric Wedge brought in Charlie Furbush to face Hamilton.
Furbush would strikeout the struggling Hamilton, who went 0-5 in tonight's game and was booed as always with his poor performance. In the top of the tenth inning Seager was able to get his 20th double of the year with two outs, Kendrys Morales then got a John Jaso-like clutch hit that scored Seager and the Mariners took the 3-2 lead. Yoervis Medina was called on to close the game for the Mariners. Medina went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the tenth and the Mariners took game 2 of the four game series from the Angels.
Felix will get the ball for tomorrow and I have a good bet that Henry Blanco will be behind the plate to catch King Felix. With tonight's bounce back win the Mariners now improve to 32-40 and move back into 3rd place and 10.5 games back of first place.
Raul Ibanez lead off the top of the second off with his fourteenth homerun of the year, following that Justin Smoak, who was recalled from Triple A, didn't wait and swung on the first pitch and hit his fourth homerun of the year. Mike Scioscia thought that a fan reached over and grabbed the ball over the railing so the umpires reviewed the play. After a few minutes the umps agreed that it was a homerun so the Mariners took the 2-0 lead.
The Mariners wouldn't get another run in that inning and in the bottom of the third inning Mark Trumbo would hurt the Mariners again with a lead off homerun for his sixteenth homerun of the year. With two outs the Angels looked like they would score another run, as Eric Aybar singled and Hank Conger walked, but thankfully Bonderman was able to get Peter Bourjos grounded one back to Bonderman to end the inning. Trout would lead off the third inning again with a single but thankfully Hamilton grounded into his second double play of the night and Pujols grounded out to end the inning.
Mike Zunino would double in the fourth inning with two outs, Michael Saunders would walk to put runners on for Brendan Ryan. Ryan would strike out to end the inning for the Mariners. In the bottom of the fifth inning Bonderman would get into a jam but got help from Josh Hamilton again as he grounded into his third double play of the night and the inning would end there. Saunders lead off the top of the seventh inning off with a single to put an insurance runner on. Brendan Ryan failed to move Saunders over as he popped an attempted bunt up in foul ground and Conger was able to run it down for the first out.
Saunders was able to swipe his tenth stolen base but Endy Chavez wasn't able to connect with the ball and struck out. Franklin was able to draw a two out walk but Kyle Seager struck out to end the threat for the Mariners in the seventh inning. Oliver Perez was brought in the bottom of the seventh inning for Bonderman, Chris Iannetta drew the lead off walk. Perez was able to bounce back and get Bourjos to line out and got both Trout and Hamilton to strikeout.
Tom Wilhelmsen was brought in the bottom of the eighth inning and didn't start off on a good note as Pujols blasted away not only the game tying homerun but Bonderman's second win of the season. Wilhelmsen would go 1-2-3 after that but in the bottom of the ninth Tommy boy would allow a lead off base hit and walk the second batter, he was able to strikeout Bourjos and get Trout to fly out and after that Eric Wedge brought in Charlie Furbush to face Hamilton.
Furbush would strikeout the struggling Hamilton, who went 0-5 in tonight's game and was booed as always with his poor performance. In the top of the tenth inning Seager was able to get his 20th double of the year with two outs, Kendrys Morales then got a John Jaso-like clutch hit that scored Seager and the Mariners took the 3-2 lead. Yoervis Medina was called on to close the game for the Mariners. Medina went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the tenth and the Mariners took game 2 of the four game series from the Angels.
Felix will get the ball for tomorrow and I have a good bet that Henry Blanco will be behind the plate to catch King Felix. With tonight's bounce back win the Mariners now improve to 32-40 and move back into 3rd place and 10.5 games back of first place.
Monday, May 27, 2013
A Memorial Day bashing
The day after their extra inning win the Mariners decided that some changes had to be made, so Nick Franklin put on a Mariners jersey for the first time in his career and came into Safeco Field today as a major leaguer. Dustin Ackley was optioned downed to Triple A Tacoma along with Lucas Luetge and brought up Hector Noesi to replace him. So, with some young guys being brought up that was more then a reason for Mariners fans to both watch and go to the game today. Aaron Harang took to the mound today looking to have a better outing then the disaster he had in Anaheim. Harang had a great first inning after giving up a lead off double to Everth Cabrera he went 1-2-3.
Jason Bay lead off the bottom half of the first in a big way, sending a long drive over the wall to give the Mariners the early 1-0 lead and on that homerun a fan made one impressive catch, had to put that in there. The Mariners didn't stop there, after Kyle Seager drew a walk and Kendrys Morales doubled Mike Morse sent one more pitch into the center field seats and the Mariners took a nice comfortable 4-0 lead.
Harang continued to pitch brilliantly as he had easy innings and located his pitches in the right spot. The bottom of the fourth saw the M's hit their third homerun of the game as Kelly Shoppach drove one into Edgar's Cantina. The Mariners got were able to have another terrific inning. The bottom of the seventh began with Brendan Ryan singling to left field and putting his batting average to .214 for the year now. Jason Bay and Kyle Seager both drew walks and then Kendrys Morales drove in two more runs with a 2-run single and the Mariners took a 7-0 lead. Anthony Bass threw a wild pitch in the dirt that allowed Seager to score and the lead grew to 8-0.
Raul Ibanez then was able to line a ball down the right field line scoring Morales and giving the M's and Harang a 9-0 lead to work with. During the bottom of the seventh when Carlos Triunfel came up to bat the crowd started cheering as Nick Franklin wearing the number 20 on his back came onto the on deck circle to take some swings and get ready for his first major league at bat. Triunfel grounded out to end the inning and Franklin went back into the dugout but came out to play second base and get his first major league action.
Harang had another easy inning the in the eighth and Franklin made two plays to start his career out as well. Franklin lead off the bottom of the eighth inning and the fans gave him a terrific ovation as he walked up to take his first MLB at-bat. The first pitch to Franklin went in for a strike but after that he looked at four straight balls to walk in his first at-bat of his career. Harang was over 100 pitches as he entered the ninth inning. Harang finished off the first complete game shutout of the year for a Mariners pitcher. The team treated Harang not to the Super Soaker but a classic Gatorade bath which was well deserved.
Tomorrow the Mariners send out Brandon Maurer against Edison Volquez looking to pitch better then he did in Anaheim as well.
Jason Bay lead off the bottom half of the first in a big way, sending a long drive over the wall to give the Mariners the early 1-0 lead and on that homerun a fan made one impressive catch, had to put that in there. The Mariners didn't stop there, after Kyle Seager drew a walk and Kendrys Morales doubled Mike Morse sent one more pitch into the center field seats and the Mariners took a nice comfortable 4-0 lead.
Harang continued to pitch brilliantly as he had easy innings and located his pitches in the right spot. The bottom of the fourth saw the M's hit their third homerun of the game as Kelly Shoppach drove one into Edgar's Cantina. The Mariners got were able to have another terrific inning. The bottom of the seventh began with Brendan Ryan singling to left field and putting his batting average to .214 for the year now. Jason Bay and Kyle Seager both drew walks and then Kendrys Morales drove in two more runs with a 2-run single and the Mariners took a 7-0 lead. Anthony Bass threw a wild pitch in the dirt that allowed Seager to score and the lead grew to 8-0.
Raul Ibanez then was able to line a ball down the right field line scoring Morales and giving the M's and Harang a 9-0 lead to work with. During the bottom of the seventh when Carlos Triunfel came up to bat the crowd started cheering as Nick Franklin wearing the number 20 on his back came onto the on deck circle to take some swings and get ready for his first major league at bat. Triunfel grounded out to end the inning and Franklin went back into the dugout but came out to play second base and get his first major league action.
Harang had another easy inning the in the eighth and Franklin made two plays to start his career out as well. Franklin lead off the bottom of the eighth inning and the fans gave him a terrific ovation as he walked up to take his first MLB at-bat. The first pitch to Franklin went in for a strike but after that he looked at four straight balls to walk in his first at-bat of his career. Harang was over 100 pitches as he entered the ninth inning. Harang finished off the first complete game shutout of the year for a Mariners pitcher. The team treated Harang not to the Super Soaker but a classic Gatorade bath which was well deserved.
Tomorrow the Mariners send out Brandon Maurer against Edison Volquez looking to pitch better then he did in Anaheim as well.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Felix win's it for a fallen friend
I know I'm late on this blog but bare with me, Saturday was a tough day for me. I attend the funeral of a fallen friend of mine who was taken from me and the people who loved him. During the funeral both his mother and father had amazing words to say about Mike. They told us stories about how he loved everyone who was in his life and he was a great American solider that was taken from his friends and family too soon.
At about 20 minutes before the service was over they showed a slideshow of pictures of Mike of his life during the slideshow I tried to hold everything together but when a picture of Mike and myself appeared when we played baseball during our senior year that is when everything just pored out.
I couldn't hold it together and i thought i would cry loudly but i held myself together and after the service i hugged his twin brother Steven and said "its going to be tough but he is with God and is being taken care of", during that emotional hug Steve managed to make me laugh in the way Mike would make me laugh by saying "you know Mike would be laughing at both of us right now cause were crying like a bunch of big babies".
That was Mike a guy who could make you laugh when you were feeling like shit and a man that you could trust with your life. I can honestly say that Mike Lowery was one of my best fierce friends that i ever knew and everyday ill miss him until the day we meet again in heaven.
After the funeral i made my way back home and as soon as i got home i immediatly took to the social media. I sent to tweet to the Mariners asking if they would ask Felix Hernandez (@RealKingFelix) if he would dedicate his pitching performance to Mike. I sent that tweet because both times when Mike was over in Iraq and in Afghanistan, when he got the time he always asked me how the Mariners and the Seahawks were doing and whenever i would tell him that Felix pitched I think he would get even more excited as he always loved to know how the best pitcher in baseball did. T
he day of Felix's perfect game i sent him a message telling him that Felix had made history and threw a perfect game against the Rays. It took him 3 days to see my message and as soon as he saw that message he responded to me by saying "NO FUCKING WAY! Thats awesome! I really wish i couldve seen that shit go down! Thanks for telling me Mike always appreciate updates from you".
2 hours after the funeral i attended a gathering at Mike's mothers house for a celebration of his life and an hour before i left i recieved a DM on Twitter. When i opened the DM i just about fell down and cried, it was Felix, and he had said that he would dedicate tonight's performance to Mike and that he would guarentee a win in the process.
That night i watched the game with Mike's family and friends as i told them what Felix had told me and they were watching every pitch. Felix's first were both easy enough but in the top of the 3rd inning Chris Iannetta lead off the inning by homering to left field and then later in the inning Mike Trout drove in another run with a sacrifice fly and the Angels took a 2-0 lead. Felix shut down the Halos for the rest of his night and in the bottom of the 6th inning Raul Ibanez lead off with a walk and then Jesus Montero crush one to center field and tied the game up at 2-2 and then in the bottom of the 7th inning is where the magic came into play.
Both Kyle Seager and Mike Morse lead off with singles and the M's started off the inning well and after Justin Smoak struckout Kendrys Morales came through and singled home what would be the go-ahead run for the Mariners and giving them the 3-2 lead.
Felix threw 8 strong and terrific innings as Tom Wilhelmsen came into the top of the 9th to close out an emotional game for me watching. Wilhelmsen got the job done as soon as that third out was recorded i broke down and cried for 2 minutes as Felix kept his promise, he had thrown an amazing game for Mike and had giving him a win as well. About an hour after the game when i got home from the celebration i had recieved another DM from Felix saying "This one was for your bud Mike. My he rest in peace with God and i will pray for him and his family every day".
Felix is an incredible man. He cares so much about the city of Seattle and the M's fans that he went out on the mound and pitched in memory of someone who only cheer for him but never met in person. He promised me that the team would win and he kept his promise, this game was not only one of the best game's i have watched all year but it was also the hardest game. I say that because I know Mike wouldve loved to have seen this game in person.
As I have said and so many others to me Mike will be missed, he is no longer suffering and is in God's pressence now and will be watching over each and everyone of his friends and family until the day we all see him in heaven. I want to thank Felix Hernandez for pitching for Mike on Saturday and for making me love baseball even more.
This was the first time i have ever cried after a Seattle Mariners win, but they werent tears of sorrow or anger they were tears of happiness and joy. Mike this game was for you.
RIP Mike Lowery May 30,1990-April 9,2013
At about 20 minutes before the service was over they showed a slideshow of pictures of Mike of his life during the slideshow I tried to hold everything together but when a picture of Mike and myself appeared when we played baseball during our senior year that is when everything just pored out.
I couldn't hold it together and i thought i would cry loudly but i held myself together and after the service i hugged his twin brother Steven and said "its going to be tough but he is with God and is being taken care of", during that emotional hug Steve managed to make me laugh in the way Mike would make me laugh by saying "you know Mike would be laughing at both of us right now cause were crying like a bunch of big babies".
That was Mike a guy who could make you laugh when you were feeling like shit and a man that you could trust with your life. I can honestly say that Mike Lowery was one of my best fierce friends that i ever knew and everyday ill miss him until the day we meet again in heaven.
After the funeral i made my way back home and as soon as i got home i immediatly took to the social media. I sent to tweet to the Mariners asking if they would ask Felix Hernandez (@RealKingFelix) if he would dedicate his pitching performance to Mike. I sent that tweet because both times when Mike was over in Iraq and in Afghanistan, when he got the time he always asked me how the Mariners and the Seahawks were doing and whenever i would tell him that Felix pitched I think he would get even more excited as he always loved to know how the best pitcher in baseball did. T
he day of Felix's perfect game i sent him a message telling him that Felix had made history and threw a perfect game against the Rays. It took him 3 days to see my message and as soon as he saw that message he responded to me by saying "NO FUCKING WAY! Thats awesome! I really wish i couldve seen that shit go down! Thanks for telling me Mike always appreciate updates from you".
2 hours after the funeral i attended a gathering at Mike's mothers house for a celebration of his life and an hour before i left i recieved a DM on Twitter. When i opened the DM i just about fell down and cried, it was Felix, and he had said that he would dedicate tonight's performance to Mike and that he would guarentee a win in the process.
That night i watched the game with Mike's family and friends as i told them what Felix had told me and they were watching every pitch. Felix's first were both easy enough but in the top of the 3rd inning Chris Iannetta lead off the inning by homering to left field and then later in the inning Mike Trout drove in another run with a sacrifice fly and the Angels took a 2-0 lead. Felix shut down the Halos for the rest of his night and in the bottom of the 6th inning Raul Ibanez lead off with a walk and then Jesus Montero crush one to center field and tied the game up at 2-2 and then in the bottom of the 7th inning is where the magic came into play.
Both Kyle Seager and Mike Morse lead off with singles and the M's started off the inning well and after Justin Smoak struckout Kendrys Morales came through and singled home what would be the go-ahead run for the Mariners and giving them the 3-2 lead.
Felix threw 8 strong and terrific innings as Tom Wilhelmsen came into the top of the 9th to close out an emotional game for me watching. Wilhelmsen got the job done as soon as that third out was recorded i broke down and cried for 2 minutes as Felix kept his promise, he had thrown an amazing game for Mike and had giving him a win as well. About an hour after the game when i got home from the celebration i had recieved another DM from Felix saying "This one was for your bud Mike. My he rest in peace with God and i will pray for him and his family every day".
Felix is an incredible man. He cares so much about the city of Seattle and the M's fans that he went out on the mound and pitched in memory of someone who only cheer for him but never met in person. He promised me that the team would win and he kept his promise, this game was not only one of the best game's i have watched all year but it was also the hardest game. I say that because I know Mike wouldve loved to have seen this game in person.
As I have said and so many others to me Mike will be missed, he is no longer suffering and is in God's pressence now and will be watching over each and everyone of his friends and family until the day we all see him in heaven. I want to thank Felix Hernandez for pitching for Mike on Saturday and for making me love baseball even more.
This was the first time i have ever cried after a Seattle Mariners win, but they werent tears of sorrow or anger they were tears of happiness and joy. Mike this game was for you.
RIP Mike Lowery May 30,1990-April 9,2013
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Power of the beards didnt help.
Well Aaron Harang took the mound for the Seattle Mariners Friday night against the Los Angeles Angels. Now Harang is one of those pitchers that you say "oh crap why must he go on the mound tonight?". Well Friday night was bearded hat night giveaway for for the Mariners, so the power of the beards should've helped the M's win this ball game right, right? Well, that wasnt the case. Harang was horrible!!! In the first inning the Angels struck first, both Peter Bourjos and Mike Trout singled to lead off the inning and then Albert Pujols drove in the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly and the Angels took the early 1-0. Thats all the Angels would get in the 1st inning then in the bottom half of the 1st it was the M's turn to try their luck against C.J. Wilson. Wilson has had great success against the Mariners with a 11-5 record in 50 games, 13 of those games he started in. The first inning was all too easy for Wilson as he got the Mariners hitters out in order. Harang got into more trouble in the top of the second, after giving up a single to Brendan Harris, Hank Conger took Harang deep and the Angels took the 3-0 lead.
The M's went 1-2-3 again in the bottom half of the inning and in the top of the 3rd the Angels would get two more runs coming off the two-run homerun by Mark Trumbo and now the Halos had a commanding 5-0 lead. Harang was able to get out of the inning without allowing another run but after the third out his night was done and Hector Noesi would be brought in in the 4th to pitch. The bottom half of the 4th is where the Mariners got things going as Kyle Seager extended his hitting career high hitting streak to 15 games. Kendrys Morales singled followed by Mike Morse walking then loading up the bases for Justin Smoak. In Smoak's career he is 2-23 with the bases loaded, well make it 2-24 as he struckout for the first out of the inning. Kelly Shoppach helped the M's by "taking one for the team" as he was hit by a pitch that brought in Seager, but that's all the Mariners could manage as Robert Andino and Endy Chavez both struckout to end the inning. The M's managed to load the bases up again in the next inning, but once again the M's continued their struggles with hitting with runner in scoring position and Smoak put his 2-24 career batting with the bases loaded to 2-25.
The bottom of the sixth was the inning the Mariners took advantage of Wilson. Shoppach and Andino both were able to lead off with hits, Andino doubled after Shoppach singled and Chavez sacraficed home Shoppach and so the M's now trailed 5-3. Brendan Ryan put down a suicide bunt down that Andino scored on. The M's went into the top of the 7th only trailing by 2 runs and in need of Noesi to shutdown the Halos, it didnt go the way they planned as the Angels got an extra run and extended their lead to 6-3. Charlie Furbush was then called into duty to try and keep the lead to just three, he was able to get out of the inning without allowing another run. Now the M's had to get some work done and get some runs with only 3 innings to work with. Smoak in the bottom of the 7th was thrown out at home plate trying to score and that ended inning for the M's. The 9th inning for the M's saw Morales starting off the inning by getting on 2nd after Mike Trout dropped the ball in left field but after Smoak walked with 1 out both Shoppach and Dustin Ackley grounded out to end the game.
NOTES: Both Kyle Seager and Dustin Ackley extended their hitting streaks to 15 and 7 games. Hector Noesi put his ERA down to 1.23. The Mariners went 1-12 with runners in scoring position.
The M's went 1-2-3 again in the bottom half of the inning and in the top of the 3rd the Angels would get two more runs coming off the two-run homerun by Mark Trumbo and now the Halos had a commanding 5-0 lead. Harang was able to get out of the inning without allowing another run but after the third out his night was done and Hector Noesi would be brought in in the 4th to pitch. The bottom half of the 4th is where the Mariners got things going as Kyle Seager extended his hitting career high hitting streak to 15 games. Kendrys Morales singled followed by Mike Morse walking then loading up the bases for Justin Smoak. In Smoak's career he is 2-23 with the bases loaded, well make it 2-24 as he struckout for the first out of the inning. Kelly Shoppach helped the M's by "taking one for the team" as he was hit by a pitch that brought in Seager, but that's all the Mariners could manage as Robert Andino and Endy Chavez both struckout to end the inning. The M's managed to load the bases up again in the next inning, but once again the M's continued their struggles with hitting with runner in scoring position and Smoak put his 2-24 career batting with the bases loaded to 2-25.
The bottom of the sixth was the inning the Mariners took advantage of Wilson. Shoppach and Andino both were able to lead off with hits, Andino doubled after Shoppach singled and Chavez sacraficed home Shoppach and so the M's now trailed 5-3. Brendan Ryan put down a suicide bunt down that Andino scored on. The M's went into the top of the 7th only trailing by 2 runs and in need of Noesi to shutdown the Halos, it didnt go the way they planned as the Angels got an extra run and extended their lead to 6-3. Charlie Furbush was then called into duty to try and keep the lead to just three, he was able to get out of the inning without allowing another run. Now the M's had to get some work done and get some runs with only 3 innings to work with. Smoak in the bottom of the 7th was thrown out at home plate trying to score and that ended inning for the M's. The 9th inning for the M's saw Morales starting off the inning by getting on 2nd after Mike Trout dropped the ball in left field but after Smoak walked with 1 out both Shoppach and Dustin Ackley grounded out to end the game.
NOTES: Both Kyle Seager and Dustin Ackley extended their hitting streaks to 15 and 7 games. Hector Noesi put his ERA down to 1.23. The Mariners went 1-12 with runners in scoring position.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
The Rookie and his bats
Brandon Maurer had one hell of a challenge tonight, the Los Angeles Angels. A team that has Mike Trout, Josh Hamilton, Albert Pujols, and Mark Trumbo. Basically, a team with a crap-ton of power hitters but hey not only do the Angels have power in their lineup they are also the #1 hitting team in the American League, so how bout that for the rookie pitcher. Well Maurer decided to shutdown that #1 hitting team tonight. His night began by striking out the first two batters including Trout and got Pujols to ground out, not bad huh? 1-2-3 inning for the rookie and so now it was time for the bats to go work. The first inning didn't see any work except for Endy Chavez leading off the inning with a single. So Maurer went back out for his 2nd inning of work and faced Josh Hamilton for the first time in his young career and was able to get Hamilton out with a ground ball right back to him, Maurer gave a single to Trumbo but on the replay on TV um lets just say Trumbo was OUT! Maurer was able to finish the inning off with a fielder's choice and his 3rd strikeout of the night. Both teams went down quietly, the M's in the bottom half of the 2nd and the Angels in the top of the 3rd.
Now I didn't notice this until the bottom of the 1st but Carlos Peguero started tonight's game and I was thinking "oh crap there's 3 or 4 extra strikeouts for this starting pitcher", but Peguero decided to shut me up by literally golfing a lead off homerun in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Now that wasn't the most impressive thing about the homerun, not only did he hit a ball that was in the dirt but he hit that ball 451 ft WOW!!! The Mariners were not done in the bottom of the 3rd inning, Jason Bay singled after Carlos's long HR and not long after that Chavez singled for the second time in the game. Kyle Seager then came up and hit a nice liner to centerfield that scored Bay and the M's took a 2-0 and extended Seager's hitting streak to a career long 14 games. Maurer continued his dominance in the 4th but got into a jam in the top of the 5th and with only 1 out and 2 on Maurer was able to get Peter Bourjos to ground into a big double play and keep the shutout going. In the top of the 6th inning Mike Trout lead off with a single but was retired not long afterwards as he tried to steal a base but Kelly Shoppach fired one to Dustin Ackley to cut down the speedy Trout. Pujols then singled up the middle but Maurer got the 3rd member of the Angels Big 3 to ground into a double play and get out of that inning.
In the top of the 7th Maurer night was finished after giving up a single to Howie Kendrick and hitting Brendan Harris so Eric Wedge brought in Carter Capps; who has been the most reliable reliever in the bullpen for the M's. Maurer walked off the field to and even 13,000 fans cheering for his most brilliant performance of the year and Capps helped his starter out by getting Chris Iannetta to ground into the biggest double play of the game. The bottom of the 7th inning began well as Justin Smoak walked and Ackley singled to right field, Kelly Shoppach got Smoak and Ackley over with a sacrifice bunt. After Peguero's golf HR the Angels decided to load the bases by intentionally walking him, Bay then came up and knocked in both Smoak and Ackley with a line drive to left field and the M's took a 4-0 lead. The bottom of the 8th saw Chavez leading off with a single for his 3rd hit of the night, Seager then unloaded and put one in the right field seats for his 3rd HR of the year and the lead was now 6-0. Tom Wilhelmsen was then brought in not in a save opportunity but merely just to get some work in and did the job by getting Pujols and Hamilton to ground out and striking out Trumbo.
NOTES: This win tonight but the Mariners record to 9-15 for the season and putting them to 7 games back of the Texas Rangers for first place. On another note Taijuan Walker pitched tonight and went 7 strong innings and striking out 7. Maurer has posted a 1.89 ERA over his last 3 starts. Wilhelmsen after tonight put his ERA to 0.90 with his 1-2-3 inning tonight.
Now I didn't notice this until the bottom of the 1st but Carlos Peguero started tonight's game and I was thinking "oh crap there's 3 or 4 extra strikeouts for this starting pitcher", but Peguero decided to shut me up by literally golfing a lead off homerun in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Now that wasn't the most impressive thing about the homerun, not only did he hit a ball that was in the dirt but he hit that ball 451 ft WOW!!! The Mariners were not done in the bottom of the 3rd inning, Jason Bay singled after Carlos's long HR and not long after that Chavez singled for the second time in the game. Kyle Seager then came up and hit a nice liner to centerfield that scored Bay and the M's took a 2-0 and extended Seager's hitting streak to a career long 14 games. Maurer continued his dominance in the 4th but got into a jam in the top of the 5th and with only 1 out and 2 on Maurer was able to get Peter Bourjos to ground into a big double play and keep the shutout going. In the top of the 6th inning Mike Trout lead off with a single but was retired not long afterwards as he tried to steal a base but Kelly Shoppach fired one to Dustin Ackley to cut down the speedy Trout. Pujols then singled up the middle but Maurer got the 3rd member of the Angels Big 3 to ground into a double play and get out of that inning.
In the top of the 7th Maurer night was finished after giving up a single to Howie Kendrick and hitting Brendan Harris so Eric Wedge brought in Carter Capps; who has been the most reliable reliever in the bullpen for the M's. Maurer walked off the field to and even 13,000 fans cheering for his most brilliant performance of the year and Capps helped his starter out by getting Chris Iannetta to ground into the biggest double play of the game. The bottom of the 7th inning began well as Justin Smoak walked and Ackley singled to right field, Kelly Shoppach got Smoak and Ackley over with a sacrifice bunt. After Peguero's golf HR the Angels decided to load the bases by intentionally walking him, Bay then came up and knocked in both Smoak and Ackley with a line drive to left field and the M's took a 4-0 lead. The bottom of the 8th saw Chavez leading off with a single for his 3rd hit of the night, Seager then unloaded and put one in the right field seats for his 3rd HR of the year and the lead was now 6-0. Tom Wilhelmsen was then brought in not in a save opportunity but merely just to get some work in and did the job by getting Pujols and Hamilton to ground out and striking out Trumbo.
NOTES: This win tonight but the Mariners record to 9-15 for the season and putting them to 7 games back of the Texas Rangers for first place. On another note Taijuan Walker pitched tonight and went 7 strong innings and striking out 7. Maurer has posted a 1.89 ERA over his last 3 starts. Wilhelmsen after tonight put his ERA to 0.90 with his 1-2-3 inning tonight.
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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!