Mariners Win Rubber Game in Oakland, 8-4
The Mariners won convincingly yesterday against the Athletics by a score of 8-4 in O.Co Coliseum in Oakland, taking two of three in the series.
Everything came together yesterday afternoon and other than getting just a little too much of the plate with a few pitches, the Mariners pitching appears to have turned a corner. The recent turnaround for the Mariners is no doubt thanks to many additions to both the bullpen and rotation throughout the season, including the fortuitous trade for a special relief talent, Arquimedes Caminero.
Adam Lind got the Mariners off to a quick 1-0 lead when he began the 2nd inning by hitting a 443 foot home run to the upper deck in right field. They added three more in the next two innings thanks to RBI base hits by Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager. After it looked like the inning had ended, a review determined the A’s 2nd baseman Tyler Ladendorf had never touched 2nd base, giving Shawn O’Malley a chance for a clutch two-out RBI single to stretch the lead to 4-1.
The Mariners loaded the bases in the 6th and had chased starting pitcher Zach Neal early, getting to him for the second time in a row. Neal had pitched well this season, except for his first start, and now his last start today against the M’s.
Athletics lefty reliever Daniel Columbe couldn’t stay away from the middle of the plate either, and red hot Seager made up for losing a 6th game hitting streak yesterday with a bases clearing RBI double to break the game wide open.
Wade LeBlanc got the start for the Mariners and pitched well but left just a couple of changeups up over the plate and hung a curve to Khris Davis in the 6th, who hit yet another two-run home run, his third in consecutive games this series. LeBlanc got through the 6th though and pitched another quality start yesterday. He was effective with his fastball catching hitters looking on the inside corner and kept his change low and away, out of the zone for the most part.
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The Mariners added a late insurance run on another clutch base hit with runners in scoring position. The M’s raked with runners in scoring position today, going 6 for 10. Aoki batted in the lead off position again, and went 3-5 with 1 run and 1 RBI. He and Shawn O’Malley continue to play well. O’Malley got the start again today at shortstop for a struggling Ketel Marte, and went 2-3 with a walk, two runs, an RBI, and a stolen base.
The win earns the Mariners an important series win, that it felt like they really needed to have after a homestand that got them back in the pennant race. They take advantage of a rare Rangers loss, albeit to the wild card rival Tigers to pick up a game in the AL West. They attempt to win their 8th in their last 9 games tonight at 7 pm PST against the Angels in Anaheim.
Tomorrow’s Probables: Felix Hernandez gets an opportunity to follow up on a promising start against the Tigers when he went seven innings, striking out 8 and giving up just one run. Ricky Nolasco takes the mound for the Angels after being traded by the Twins in the Hector Santiago deal on August 1st. Nolasco struggled in his first start with the Angels, but pitched well in a loss Wednesday against the Cubs, giving up just two runs in six innings.
Felix Hernandez 6-4, 3.39 ERA vs. Ricky Nolasco 4-9, 5.14 ERA
MLB News Today: Giancarlo Stanton has a strained groin and will likely miss the rest of the season for the Marlins, who are tied for the second NL wild card spot. Mookie Betts unbelievably tied Ted Williams for the only players in Red Sox history to have two three-run home run games in a season in one of the worst starts of Zack Greinke‘s career. (Editor’s note: Greinke started for my (Ben Renner’s) fantasy team. I lost this week.)
Next: Player Profile: Guillermo Heredia
Today’s Date in Mariners History: This is something most of people probably don’t remember about the amazing and historic 116 win, 2001 regular season for the Seattle Mariners.
| 2001 | In the top of the ninth, Boston closer Derek Lowe allows the tying run to score when he gives up three consecutive singles to the only three batters he faces in Seattle’s eventual 6-3 victory in 11 innings at Fenway Park. The Red Sox fans show their displeasure about the blown save by tearing and then throwing onto the field pieces of the giveaway they received as a promotion for attending tonight’s game, a Derek Lowe poster |
By: Collin Ferguson at Collin-Ferguson.com & EmeraldCitySwagger.com