O’Malley’s Big Game Not Enough, Mariners Lose 3-2 to Boston
The Mariners lost yesterday in extra innings to the Red Sox in another heartbreaker by a score of 3-2.
The loss spoiled a very nice start by their newly-acquired starting pitcher, who was impressive in his first start. The Mariners failed on a couple of late opportunities to score, and while they got great relief pitching and a big game from Shawn O’Malley, the Sox found a way to score to win the game in the 11th.
Ariel Miranda was efficient and effective in his MLB debut yesterday against a really tough lineup, especially against left handed pitching. Miranda was shaky in the first though, and the Red Sox loaded the bases with just one out. Ariel showed resiliency on the mound, and after falling behind Jackie Bradley Jr, he was able to strike him out swinging on a well placed curve. Miranda got out of the first without giving up a run, but he fell behind Travis Shaw 2-0 to lead off the second and paid for it as Shaw homered to right to give the Sox a 1-0 lead.
Miranda really settled in after that home run, pounding the zone with hard 93-95 mph fastballs early, and then mixing in his curve and change later on. Ariel went six innings and threw 80 pitches, 54 of them for strikes. He gave up just two runs after a Mookie Betts RBI double in the fifth.
Having been kept in the ball game by their rookie Cuban lefty, Miranda gave the Mariners a chance. It took until the fifth inning til the Mariners offense came alive against Drew Pomeranz, thanks to Shawn O’malley’s first home run of the season, (second of his career). O’Malley had a big night with three hits and a couple of nice defensive plays. Dae-Ho Lee added a clutch two-out RBI single, which drove in Guillermo Heredia and tied the game at two. Pomeranz pitched six innings as well, but needed 105 pitches to do it as he walked six batters.
Thanks to good relief pitching by both teams, the score was still 2-2 as Robinson Cano stepped to the plate with runners on 1st and 2nd and two outs in the bottom of the 9th. Instead of sticking with the matchup Cano won decisively on Tuesday night, when he hit a game-winning three-run home run off Fernando Abad, Red Sox skipper John Farrell went to closer Craig Kimbrel. Kimbrel enticed Cano into a groundout to strand the winning run at second.
In extra innings, Blake Parker made his first appearance in an MLB game since 2014 when he pitched for the Cubs. After getting the first two outs of the inning, Parker gave up a single to Dustin Pedroia and walked Jackie Bradley Jr. to bring up Aaron Hill. After battling, Hill grounded out to third on a good 3-2 fastball to end the top of the 10th.
After a scoreless bottom half versus Kimbrel, Cody Martin was the last available reliever, and was called upon to pitch the 11th. Shaw greeted him with an opposite field single, beating the shift. After a sac bunt, Brock Holt singled up the middle, just off O’Malley’s glove, to drive in the go-ahead run.
Brad Ziegler came on in the bottom half to try to get the save, but walked the leadoff batter Mike Zunino to give the Mariners hope. After another sac bunt, Ziegler was able to get O’Malley to ground out, and on a 3-2 count struck out Seth Smith to win the game and earn a series split for Boston.
Three of the four games this series were decided by one run, and the other was decided by two runs in a well played home series against the Sox. In a disappointing loss, there were some bright moments and hopefully the start of a long future with Seattle for Ariel Miranda. The Mariners will have to get over it quickly, as their historic weekend starts tomorrow night against the Angels.
Tomorrow’s Probables: Close to 45,000 fans are expected to watch game one of the three-game series with the Angels on Ken Griffey Jr. bobblehead night to kick off the momentous weekend. Felix Hernandez gets the start for Seattle and his struggles lately have been well documented. He faces another struggling pitcher, newly acquired free agent pitcher, and 2008 and 2009 Cy Young award winner Tim Lincecum. “The Freak” makes his second start at Safeco Field in Seattle, his hometown.
Felix Hernandez 5-4, 3.46 ERA vs. Tim Lincecum 2-5, 8.49 ERA
Mentionables: While Texas beat Baltimore today, both Houston and Detroit lost. Jay Bruce‘s first hit as a Met came today, a three-run game winning home run in the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium. Coco Crisp went over the wall to rob Ji’Man Choi of a home run today in Anaheim: Video Link.
Mariners Transactions: Patrick Kivlehan, who was designated for assignment, was picked up by the San Diego Padres on waivers. Steve Cishek was placed on the 15 day DL with a left hip labrum tear. Donn Roach was optioned to AAA Tacoma. Mayckol Guaipe was released. Blake Parker signed a major league contract and was called up from AAA Tacoma. The 31-year-old righty pitched the 10th inning of last night’s game.
MLB Transactions: The Tigers activated Jordan Zimmerman from the 15-day DL. The Rangers activated Shin Soo Choo from the 15-day DL.
Next: The Mariners' Inaction at the Deadline was the Right Move
Today’s Date in Mariner History:
| 2008 | The Mariners stun the Twins with a 10-run seventh inning, coming back from a 6-0 deficit in an eventual 11-6 victory at Safeco Field. With six runs driven in, Raul Ibanez, who hits a grand slam and a two-run single in the frame, establishes a club record for RBIs in one inning, one more than Ken Griffey Jr.’s mark set in 1999. |
By: Collin Ferguson at Collin-Ferguson.com & EmeraldCitySwagger.com