The Mariners Roll Over the A’s
By Ben Renner
The Mariners took the series against the Oakland A’s after a 13-3 beatdown last night at Safeco Field.
The Mariners finally won a home series against the Oakland A’s for the first time this season after a 13-3 blowout last night.
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I admit, with the Mariners down 5-2 to the A’s in the sixth inning Tuesday night, I thought we were headed to yet another home loss to Oakland. I went to bed early that night disappointed and disheartened the Mariners would drop another home series after losing to the A’s 5-0 in the opening game. Imagine my surprise and elation when I woke up at six a.m. Wednesday morning to find a 6-5 final score Google alert on my phone.
Center fielder Leonys Martin‘s walk-off was, according to longtime Mariners writer Steve Rudman, only the sixth home run in the 40 years of the Mariners’ existence to give the Mariners the win down at least one run and to their final out. It’s the first walk-off home run in such a situation since Ichiro’s home run off of Mariano Rivera in 2009. So Martin’s homer was pretty special. And rare. Dare I say this team… refuses to lose?
The Mariners left no doubt the next game, chasing A’s starter Zach Neal after four innings. Neal, in his first Major League start, gave up seven runs in all. First baseman Adam Lind awoke in a big way, going 4-for-4 with two home runs, a double, and six RBIs. Nelson Cruz and Robinson Cano also went deep in the 13-3 romp. Martin even stole his eighth base of the season, but he had to leave the game shortly after with a hamstring injury. He is day-to-day, according to manager Scott Servais and company.
The Mariners face the pitiful Minnesota Twins, who sit in last place in the American League Central at 12-34, at Safeco Field starting tomorrow at 7:10pm. Felix Hernandez will take the hill against the Twinkies. King Felix is 5-2 with a 1.28 ERA in ten games at home against Minnesota.