Monday, May 09, 2005
GAME 31: MARINERS 6, RED SOX 4
Mariners 6, Red Sox 4
In 25 words or less: I was crying conspiracy when Boston tied the game after it arguably could have been called, but the Mariners hung on through the ninth.
This one featured Ryan Franklin against a pitcher making his first Boston appearance, Wade Miller. It also featured near-constant rain.
TOP 1ST
Grade: C-
Let the stymification (is that a word?) begin. Ichiro broke his bat on a 2-0 pitch, rolling out to first, but not with the top down. In a related note, where'd you get those platinum rings with them diamonds in 'em? The iffy strike zone was established early when Randy Winn took a 2-1 pitch that looked inside, and it was called a strike. Winn would ground out to second. Adrian Beltre took a 2-2 pitch over the outside corner to end the inning. Miller threw 17 pitches.
BOTTOM 1ST
Grade: B
Franklin put out the small fire. Johnny Damon led off by slicing a ball away from Jeremy Reed in centerfield and rolling it to the Monster, good for a double. Wind was probably a factor, as it looked like that ball almost landed at Reed's feet before he played it off the wall. Trot Nixon flew out to Winn on the track. Kevin Youkilis chopped a ball back to the mound. David Ortiz hit a high fly to Ichiro at the wall in rightfield to end the inning. Franklin threw 13 pitches.
TOP 2ND
Grade: C-
Miller had his way. Right about here was when I was ticked off because they didn't give Richie Sexson's career numbers against Miller on the broadcast, and I didn't have them readily available. Anyway, Sexson whiffed on an 0-2 pitch outside. Raul Ibañez had a 2-0 count, but swung through a 2-2 outside fastball. Bret Boone got down 0-2, later putting the full-count pitch into play -- shortstop Mark Bellhorn threw way high and wide, and I was surprised Keith Olbermann's mother wasn't hit. Boone got aboard on the error, but there were two out. Jeremy Reed took an 0-2 curve for strike three. Miller threw 19 pitches.
BOTTOM 2ND
Grade: A
Franklin evaded trouble, having a pretty good inning. Kevin Millar fouled off an 0-2 pitch, and fouled another one that was caught by Franklin, who ran off the mound toward the first-base dugout. Why he didn't let Sexson (sliding behind) have that ball was beyond me, but oh well. Jason Varitek swung at a low pitch and grounded out to Beltre. Jay Payton rolled a ball to short. Franklin threw 12 pitches.
TOP 3RD
Grade: B+
The Mariners put some runs across with an unlikely catalyst. Recently recalled backup catcher Wiki Gonzalez inexplicably roped the first pitch into the triangle in centerfield for a double. Willie Bloomquist -- starting both ends of the doubleheader because Wilson Valdez' bat really must be that bad -- fouled off an 0-2 pitch, but later grounded out to third. Gonzalez got completely unnecessary praise from the booth for not getting nabbed trying to go to third. In other words, thanks to Wiki for doing what any non-bonehead is supposed to do in that situation. Ichiro poked the second pitch up the middle for a single, and Gonzalez lumbered to third. Winn hit a slow grounder to second, slow enough to even score Gonzalez from third.
»» MARINERS 1, RED SOX 0
Beltre had the hitters' counts and mashed the 3-1 offering off the National League scoreboard in leftcenter, even making a cool ball-to-metal sound upon impact. Beltre coasted into second and Ichiro came across.
»» MARINERS 2, RED SOX 0
Sexson grounded out to second to end the inning. They got a lead! Miller threw 21 pitches.
BOTTOM 3RD
Grade: B
Franklin resisted all temptation to give the lead right back. He got ahead 0-2 on Bill Mueller, eventually catching him looking at a 2-2 pitch. Mark Bellhorn rolled a single through the hole on the right side, and Damon followed with the same thing. Nixon popped an 0-2 pitch in foul territory, so although it was nice, Beltre could have totally muffed that basket catch and it still would have been an out. Youkilis grounded one to short to end the inning. Franklin threw 18 pitches.
TOP 4TH
Grade: C
Miller responded with a 1-2-3 inning. Ibañez popped the second pitch foul to Youkilis. Boone took Damon to the track in centerfield on the first pitch. Reed got down 0-2 and worked an epic at-bat, fouling off five pitches with two strikes en route to whiffing on a full-count curve in the dirt on the 11th pitch. Miller threw 14 pitches.
BOTTOM 4TH
Grade: C+
It got interesting. Ortiz got the hitters' counts and hit a knee-high 3-1 pitch over the Monster, where whoever was up there didn't catch it. Nonetheless, the lead was cut in half.
»» MARINERS 2, RED SOX 1
Millar and Varitek grounded out to third and second, respectively. Payton was caught looking at a 2-2 pitch over the outside corner. Franklin threw 19 pitches.
TOP 5TH
Grade: C-
Miller held the fort. Gonzalez didn't have as much luck this time, foiled by Millar going to the knees to make a stab, and underhanding to Miller covering. Yes, the Red Sox had a Miller, Millar, and a Mueller on the field today, and two of those names are pronounced the same. Bloomquist fouled off his 3-1 pitch, but took ball four low. He stole second on the 1-1 pitch to Ichiro, who fouled a 1-2 pitch into the catcher's glove. Winn grounded out to second to end the inning. Miller threw 20 pitches.
Miller's line: 5 innings, 2 runs, 3 hits, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts, 92 pitches (58 strikes)
BOTTOM 5TH
Grade: A-
Franklin did okay. Mueller smoked the 2-1 pitch right into Beltre's glove. Bellhorn flew out to Ichiro. Damon had a 2-0 count, but later flew out to Bloomquist in shallow leftfield. Franklin threw nine pitches and was at 71 through five.
TOP 6TH
Grade: C
John Halama, who would rather watch basketball than baseball, came in for Miller. Beltre hit the third-base bag on the 3-1 pitch, and it caromed off the angling wall along the third-base line. Beltre tried to stretch it into a double, but Bellhorn had it played perfectly, tossing to Mueller to easily nail Beltre at second. Sexson hit a line drive into rightfield that Nixon caught, reaching upward as he ran on the track toward the wall. Ibañez hit his second pitch off the base of the wall in centerfield for a double. If only Beltre had stayed on first. Boone was intentionally walked. Reed got the hitters' counts before rolling a ball to second to end the inning. Halama threw 20 pitches, but four of them definitely weren't at full strength.
BOTTOM 6TH
Grade:
By this point, I was clamoring for the game to be called. Nixon flew out to Ichiro to lead off. Youkilis doubled halfway up the Monster. Ortiz doubled even higher up the Monster, scoring Youkilis and unfortunately tying the game.
»» RED SOX 2, MARINERS 2
Millar flew out to Bloomquist in shallow left. Franklin started 2-0 on Varitek before they put him on intentionally. Payton lined the first pitch right to Reed to end the inning. Franklin threw 21 pitches.
Franklin's line: 6 innings, 2 runs, 6 hits, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts, 97 pitches (61 strikes)
TOP 7TH
Grade: A
Damage would be done. Gonzalez continued doing impossible things, smoked a single to left on the second pitch. Bloomquist bunted the first pitch foul, then bunted the second pitch in front of the plate, but not far enough. Varitek jumped on it and threw to second to force out Gonzalez. That was not good. With Ichiro at the plate, Bloomquist was pretty much picked off by Halama, as replays showed, and it didn't help that he went back to first standing up. Ichiro grounded the second pitch to Millar, who backhanded, spun, and then dove bag to tag the bag.
Cla(y) Meredith made his Major League debut, coming in for Halama. Winn had the hitters' counts before walking on an outside full-count pitch. Beltre had the hitters' counts as well, taking the 3-1 pitch high for his free pass. This earned Meredith a visit from pitching coach Dave Wallace. Sexson took a gigantic hack at the first pitch, whiffing. He landed some decent wood on the second pitch, popping it high into the air the other way, and it kept going, and going, and hey, there's a short foul pole out there in the corner...it left. Grand freakin' slam. Man, did the Mariners need that.
»» MARINERS 6, RED SOX 2
Ibañez kept the pain train rolling for Meredith, double the first pitch off the track in centerfield. Boone took Damon to the track in front of the Monster on a 2-0 pitch for a flyout to end the inning.
Halama's line: 1 2/3 innings, 1 run, 3 hits, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts, 26 pitches (13 strikes)
Meredith's line: 1/3 innings, 3 runs, 2 hits, 2 walks, 0 strikeouts, 17 pitches (7 strikes)
BOTTOM 7TH
Grade: C-
Ron Villone, whose ERA was way too low for its own good to begin with, came in for Franklin to give up half the lead. Mueller bounced a 3-1 pitch off the track and into the bullpen for a double. Bellhorn had a 2-0 count and doubled off the Monster on the 2-1 pitch to score Mueller. That was quick.
»» MARINERS 6, RED SOX 3
Damon popped one to Boone in shallow rightfield. Manny Ramirez came in, a hell of a bat to bring off the bench. He had the hitters' counts, walking on a 3-1 pitch low and outside. Bryan Price came out for a visit. Youkilis flew out to Winn. Ortiz hit a ball that was called fair down the leftfield line, and it scored Bellhorn. Villone was beyond irate, and Winn had played the ball as if it were foul. Replays showed dirt kicked up by the ball, which had landed in foul ground. Nonetheless, the lead was ever tighter.
»» MARINERS 6, RED SOX 4
JJ Putz came in for Villone, who was quite mad about the fair call. Millar flew out to Ichiro to save people some headaches.
Villone's line: 2/3 innings, 2 runs, 3 hits, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts, 23 pitches (12 strikes)
TOP 8TH
Grade: B-
Alan Embree came in for Meredith. Reed fouled off an 0-2 pitch before rolling one to short. Gonzalez continued his nutty ways, doubling down the leftfield line and into the corner. Bloomquist tapped an 0-2 pitch back to the mound, and Gonzalez held at second, though I can't remember if the latter received completely unnecessary praise the second time around. Ichiro was intentionally walked before Winn flew out high to Payton in rightfield. It just occurred to me that both Jay and Gary Payton play in Boston. Embree threw 15 pitches.
BOTTOM 8TH
Grade: A-
Putz held the door shut with a 1-2-3 inning. Varitek got down 0-2 and later whiffed at a pitch high and away. Payton fouled off an 0-2 pitch before tapping one back to the mound. Putz opened up 3-0 on Mueller, who tapped the 3-1 pitch back to the mound.
Putz' line: 1 1/3 innings, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 walks, 1 strikeout, 16 pitches (11 strikes)
TOP 9TH
Grade: C-
The Mariners wouldn't be able to play add-on for insurance runs. Beltre lined an 0-2 pitch right back to Embree's glove. Sexson whiffed at a pitch low and away. Ibañez bounced to short to end the inning.
Embree's line: 2 innings, 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 walk, 1 strikeout, 25 pitches (17 strikes)
BOTTOM 9TH
Grade:
Eddie Guardado came in for Putz, but would it be a Cardiac Ninth? Bellhorn whiffed. Damon bounced out to short on the second pitch. Ramirez got down 0-2 and the count went full before he whiffed on a pitch outside. Ballgame.
Guardado's line: 1 inning, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts, 14 pitches (8 strikes)
---
Gameball: Wiki Gonzalez.
What the hell?!?! Seriously, where the hell did that come from? Anyway, this one's for Wiki, because I have the feeling if he doesn't get one now, he'll never get one. 3-for-4 with two doubles, and no passed balls behind the plate. Wiki freakin' Gonzalez, ladies and gentlemen. Do we tolerate the habits of the laziest player in baseball if he keeps hitting .750? Of course we do. He won't hit .750 though. He may not even hit .250 if the Mariners' fate with catchers continues along the same path. Nonetheless, this gameball represents that rainy evening on the 8th of May when Wiki Gonzalez defied all odds and went nuts.
Goat: Jeremy Reed.
Ironically, it's the guy that hit right in front of Wiki. Reed's fallen on some hard times of late, now being dropped to seventh full-time when before it happened only when a lefty was starting on the mound for the opposition. His average has plummeted to .243. The quality at-bats are still present, though a little less frequent. And of course when you're hitting seventh instead of second, you're probably not going to see great pitches like someone would when hitting in front of the #3 hitter. But hey, Reed's a rookie, and there are going to be times like this.
Well, obviously the win is great. Ryan Franklin wasn't great, and he wasn't throwing darts like he did in Kansas City, but he'll probably never do that again. Franklin didn't have to be great, though. He threw six innings and gave up two runs, and while that's not dominating by any means, it was good enough to win, and dammit, that's something that's been missing for about a week now from the starting pitchers. It's good to see it return. It wasn't good to see Franklin blow the lead, but it was also good to see him not give the Red Sox a lead. You have to start somewhere, and for now, that somewhere is here. Ryan Franklin left the game tied, and then Sexson hit the slam. Franklin has pitched starts that were more deserving of a win, but thank goodness for his sake that he got this W under the belt. Chances are, dozens of rabid fans were celebrating this win in the watering holes in Spiro.
Other than the freakish Wiki Gonzalez appearance, the middle of the lineup was doing things as well. Adrian Beltre and Raul Ibañez both had two hits apiece. Ibañez had his two hits go for doubles. Beltre had a double and tried to get that second double, but was nailed. That aside, he went 4-for-7 in the doubleheader with two doubles and two RBIs. Though he only went 1-for-8 in the doubleheader, Richie Sexson proved to be an RBI machine, driving in two in the opener and hitting the grand slam in the nightcap. Yes, he hit .125 in the doubleheader and drove in six runs. It works in mysterious ways, I guess. I'll say it again, but the line of .224 with 8 homers and 26 RBIs does seem a little Mike Cameron-ish, though Sexson's got a little more on the RBI front, I think, compared to the typical Cameron lines we were accustomed to.
I didn't really reap any huge sense of revenge with the Mariners hooking John Halama with the loss. He had some great fill-in starts as a Mariner, and had some good long relief as well. I wish he wasn't a whipping boy of Lou Piniella in his time here, but in a sick way, I guess someone had to be. Anyone else remember the time where Halama ran into some trouble in the first inning, and Lou had someone warming up in the bullpen already? Yeah, those were the days. Remember when the Mariners could win on a regular basis despite their lack of power hitting? Yeah, I do. But hey, the Long Ball makes scoring runs a snap.
Now that Ron Villone's sub-one ERA is up to a more sensible number, JJ Putz and his four up, four down outing has sent his ERA to 0.96. I'm not a terribly huge fan of his, but right now he looks more than ready to step in once again if Eddie Guardado's shoulder explodes or something. Also, what's up with Guardado? A 1-2-3 ninth? Honestly, though, I don't miss the phenomenon that is the Cardiac Ninth. Of course, there hasn't been even a chance for a Cardiac Ninth in A FREAKIN' WEEK.
The losing streak ends at a lucky seven. It had to end somewhere, it had to end somehow. The Rage reference doesn't work as well in the past tense, but the point still rings true. Everyone's glad it's over, everyone's glad there was a big hit, everyone's glad there was a solid start from the rotation, and everyone's glad that Adrian Beltre strung together a good series. Let's hope they build on this.
Meche. Johnson. Today.
In 25 words or less: I was crying conspiracy when Boston tied the game after it arguably could have been called, but the Mariners hung on through the ninth.
This one featured Ryan Franklin against a pitcher making his first Boston appearance, Wade Miller. It also featured near-constant rain.
TOP 1ST
Grade: C-
Let the stymification (is that a word?) begin. Ichiro broke his bat on a 2-0 pitch, rolling out to first, but not with the top down. In a related note, where'd you get those platinum rings with them diamonds in 'em? The iffy strike zone was established early when Randy Winn took a 2-1 pitch that looked inside, and it was called a strike. Winn would ground out to second. Adrian Beltre took a 2-2 pitch over the outside corner to end the inning. Miller threw 17 pitches.
BOTTOM 1ST
Grade: B
Franklin put out the small fire. Johnny Damon led off by slicing a ball away from Jeremy Reed in centerfield and rolling it to the Monster, good for a double. Wind was probably a factor, as it looked like that ball almost landed at Reed's feet before he played it off the wall. Trot Nixon flew out to Winn on the track. Kevin Youkilis chopped a ball back to the mound. David Ortiz hit a high fly to Ichiro at the wall in rightfield to end the inning. Franklin threw 13 pitches.
TOP 2ND
Grade: C-
Miller had his way. Right about here was when I was ticked off because they didn't give Richie Sexson's career numbers against Miller on the broadcast, and I didn't have them readily available. Anyway, Sexson whiffed on an 0-2 pitch outside. Raul Ibañez had a 2-0 count, but swung through a 2-2 outside fastball. Bret Boone got down 0-2, later putting the full-count pitch into play -- shortstop Mark Bellhorn threw way high and wide, and I was surprised Keith Olbermann's mother wasn't hit. Boone got aboard on the error, but there were two out. Jeremy Reed took an 0-2 curve for strike three. Miller threw 19 pitches.
BOTTOM 2ND
Grade: A
Franklin evaded trouble, having a pretty good inning. Kevin Millar fouled off an 0-2 pitch, and fouled another one that was caught by Franklin, who ran off the mound toward the first-base dugout. Why he didn't let Sexson (sliding behind) have that ball was beyond me, but oh well. Jason Varitek swung at a low pitch and grounded out to Beltre. Jay Payton rolled a ball to short. Franklin threw 12 pitches.
TOP 3RD
Grade: B+
The Mariners put some runs across with an unlikely catalyst. Recently recalled backup catcher Wiki Gonzalez inexplicably roped the first pitch into the triangle in centerfield for a double. Willie Bloomquist -- starting both ends of the doubleheader because Wilson Valdez' bat really must be that bad -- fouled off an 0-2 pitch, but later grounded out to third. Gonzalez got completely unnecessary praise from the booth for not getting nabbed trying to go to third. In other words, thanks to Wiki for doing what any non-bonehead is supposed to do in that situation. Ichiro poked the second pitch up the middle for a single, and Gonzalez lumbered to third. Winn hit a slow grounder to second, slow enough to even score Gonzalez from third.
»» MARINERS 1, RED SOX 0
Beltre had the hitters' counts and mashed the 3-1 offering off the National League scoreboard in leftcenter, even making a cool ball-to-metal sound upon impact. Beltre coasted into second and Ichiro came across.
»» MARINERS 2, RED SOX 0
Sexson grounded out to second to end the inning. They got a lead! Miller threw 21 pitches.
BOTTOM 3RD
Grade: B
Franklin resisted all temptation to give the lead right back. He got ahead 0-2 on Bill Mueller, eventually catching him looking at a 2-2 pitch. Mark Bellhorn rolled a single through the hole on the right side, and Damon followed with the same thing. Nixon popped an 0-2 pitch in foul territory, so although it was nice, Beltre could have totally muffed that basket catch and it still would have been an out. Youkilis grounded one to short to end the inning. Franklin threw 18 pitches.
TOP 4TH
Grade: C
Miller responded with a 1-2-3 inning. Ibañez popped the second pitch foul to Youkilis. Boone took Damon to the track in centerfield on the first pitch. Reed got down 0-2 and worked an epic at-bat, fouling off five pitches with two strikes en route to whiffing on a full-count curve in the dirt on the 11th pitch. Miller threw 14 pitches.
BOTTOM 4TH
Grade: C+
It got interesting. Ortiz got the hitters' counts and hit a knee-high 3-1 pitch over the Monster, where whoever was up there didn't catch it. Nonetheless, the lead was cut in half.
»» MARINERS 2, RED SOX 1
Millar and Varitek grounded out to third and second, respectively. Payton was caught looking at a 2-2 pitch over the outside corner. Franklin threw 19 pitches.
TOP 5TH
Grade: C-
Miller held the fort. Gonzalez didn't have as much luck this time, foiled by Millar going to the knees to make a stab, and underhanding to Miller covering. Yes, the Red Sox had a Miller, Millar, and a Mueller on the field today, and two of those names are pronounced the same. Bloomquist fouled off his 3-1 pitch, but took ball four low. He stole second on the 1-1 pitch to Ichiro, who fouled a 1-2 pitch into the catcher's glove. Winn grounded out to second to end the inning. Miller threw 20 pitches.
Miller's line: 5 innings, 2 runs, 3 hits, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts, 92 pitches (58 strikes)
BOTTOM 5TH
Grade: A-
Franklin did okay. Mueller smoked the 2-1 pitch right into Beltre's glove. Bellhorn flew out to Ichiro. Damon had a 2-0 count, but later flew out to Bloomquist in shallow leftfield. Franklin threw nine pitches and was at 71 through five.
TOP 6TH
Grade: C
John Halama, who would rather watch basketball than baseball, came in for Miller. Beltre hit the third-base bag on the 3-1 pitch, and it caromed off the angling wall along the third-base line. Beltre tried to stretch it into a double, but Bellhorn had it played perfectly, tossing to Mueller to easily nail Beltre at second. Sexson hit a line drive into rightfield that Nixon caught, reaching upward as he ran on the track toward the wall. Ibañez hit his second pitch off the base of the wall in centerfield for a double. If only Beltre had stayed on first. Boone was intentionally walked. Reed got the hitters' counts before rolling a ball to second to end the inning. Halama threw 20 pitches, but four of them definitely weren't at full strength.
BOTTOM 6TH
Grade:
By this point, I was clamoring for the game to be called. Nixon flew out to Ichiro to lead off. Youkilis doubled halfway up the Monster. Ortiz doubled even higher up the Monster, scoring Youkilis and unfortunately tying the game.
»» RED SOX 2, MARINERS 2
Millar flew out to Bloomquist in shallow left. Franklin started 2-0 on Varitek before they put him on intentionally. Payton lined the first pitch right to Reed to end the inning. Franklin threw 21 pitches.
Franklin's line: 6 innings, 2 runs, 6 hits, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts, 97 pitches (61 strikes)
TOP 7TH
Grade: A
Damage would be done. Gonzalez continued doing impossible things, smoked a single to left on the second pitch. Bloomquist bunted the first pitch foul, then bunted the second pitch in front of the plate, but not far enough. Varitek jumped on it and threw to second to force out Gonzalez. That was not good. With Ichiro at the plate, Bloomquist was pretty much picked off by Halama, as replays showed, and it didn't help that he went back to first standing up. Ichiro grounded the second pitch to Millar, who backhanded, spun, and then dove bag to tag the bag.
Cla(y) Meredith made his Major League debut, coming in for Halama. Winn had the hitters' counts before walking on an outside full-count pitch. Beltre had the hitters' counts as well, taking the 3-1 pitch high for his free pass. This earned Meredith a visit from pitching coach Dave Wallace. Sexson took a gigantic hack at the first pitch, whiffing. He landed some decent wood on the second pitch, popping it high into the air the other way, and it kept going, and going, and hey, there's a short foul pole out there in the corner...it left. Grand freakin' slam. Man, did the Mariners need that.
»» MARINERS 6, RED SOX 2
Ibañez kept the pain train rolling for Meredith, double the first pitch off the track in centerfield. Boone took Damon to the track in front of the Monster on a 2-0 pitch for a flyout to end the inning.
Halama's line: 1 2/3 innings, 1 run, 3 hits, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts, 26 pitches (13 strikes)
Meredith's line: 1/3 innings, 3 runs, 2 hits, 2 walks, 0 strikeouts, 17 pitches (7 strikes)
BOTTOM 7TH
Grade: C-
Ron Villone, whose ERA was way too low for its own good to begin with, came in for Franklin to give up half the lead. Mueller bounced a 3-1 pitch off the track and into the bullpen for a double. Bellhorn had a 2-0 count and doubled off the Monster on the 2-1 pitch to score Mueller. That was quick.
»» MARINERS 6, RED SOX 3
Damon popped one to Boone in shallow rightfield. Manny Ramirez came in, a hell of a bat to bring off the bench. He had the hitters' counts, walking on a 3-1 pitch low and outside. Bryan Price came out for a visit. Youkilis flew out to Winn. Ortiz hit a ball that was called fair down the leftfield line, and it scored Bellhorn. Villone was beyond irate, and Winn had played the ball as if it were foul. Replays showed dirt kicked up by the ball, which had landed in foul ground. Nonetheless, the lead was ever tighter.
»» MARINERS 6, RED SOX 4
JJ Putz came in for Villone, who was quite mad about the fair call. Millar flew out to Ichiro to save people some headaches.
Villone's line: 2/3 innings, 2 runs, 3 hits, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts, 23 pitches (12 strikes)
TOP 8TH
Grade: B-
Alan Embree came in for Meredith. Reed fouled off an 0-2 pitch before rolling one to short. Gonzalez continued his nutty ways, doubling down the leftfield line and into the corner. Bloomquist tapped an 0-2 pitch back to the mound, and Gonzalez held at second, though I can't remember if the latter received completely unnecessary praise the second time around. Ichiro was intentionally walked before Winn flew out high to Payton in rightfield. It just occurred to me that both Jay and Gary Payton play in Boston. Embree threw 15 pitches.
BOTTOM 8TH
Grade: A-
Putz held the door shut with a 1-2-3 inning. Varitek got down 0-2 and later whiffed at a pitch high and away. Payton fouled off an 0-2 pitch before tapping one back to the mound. Putz opened up 3-0 on Mueller, who tapped the 3-1 pitch back to the mound.
Putz' line: 1 1/3 innings, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 walks, 1 strikeout, 16 pitches (11 strikes)
TOP 9TH
Grade: C-
The Mariners wouldn't be able to play add-on for insurance runs. Beltre lined an 0-2 pitch right back to Embree's glove. Sexson whiffed at a pitch low and away. Ibañez bounced to short to end the inning.
Embree's line: 2 innings, 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 walk, 1 strikeout, 25 pitches (17 strikes)
BOTTOM 9TH
Grade:
Eddie Guardado came in for Putz, but would it be a Cardiac Ninth? Bellhorn whiffed. Damon bounced out to short on the second pitch. Ramirez got down 0-2 and the count went full before he whiffed on a pitch outside. Ballgame.
Guardado's line: 1 inning, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts, 14 pitches (8 strikes)
---
Gameball: Wiki Gonzalez.
What the hell?!?! Seriously, where the hell did that come from? Anyway, this one's for Wiki, because I have the feeling if he doesn't get one now, he'll never get one. 3-for-4 with two doubles, and no passed balls behind the plate. Wiki freakin' Gonzalez, ladies and gentlemen. Do we tolerate the habits of the laziest player in baseball if he keeps hitting .750? Of course we do. He won't hit .750 though. He may not even hit .250 if the Mariners' fate with catchers continues along the same path. Nonetheless, this gameball represents that rainy evening on the 8th of May when Wiki Gonzalez defied all odds and went nuts.
Goat: Jeremy Reed.
Ironically, it's the guy that hit right in front of Wiki. Reed's fallen on some hard times of late, now being dropped to seventh full-time when before it happened only when a lefty was starting on the mound for the opposition. His average has plummeted to .243. The quality at-bats are still present, though a little less frequent. And of course when you're hitting seventh instead of second, you're probably not going to see great pitches like someone would when hitting in front of the #3 hitter. But hey, Reed's a rookie, and there are going to be times like this.
Well, obviously the win is great. Ryan Franklin wasn't great, and he wasn't throwing darts like he did in Kansas City, but he'll probably never do that again. Franklin didn't have to be great, though. He threw six innings and gave up two runs, and while that's not dominating by any means, it was good enough to win, and dammit, that's something that's been missing for about a week now from the starting pitchers. It's good to see it return. It wasn't good to see Franklin blow the lead, but it was also good to see him not give the Red Sox a lead. You have to start somewhere, and for now, that somewhere is here. Ryan Franklin left the game tied, and then Sexson hit the slam. Franklin has pitched starts that were more deserving of a win, but thank goodness for his sake that he got this W under the belt. Chances are, dozens of rabid fans were celebrating this win in the watering holes in Spiro.
Other than the freakish Wiki Gonzalez appearance, the middle of the lineup was doing things as well. Adrian Beltre and Raul Ibañez both had two hits apiece. Ibañez had his two hits go for doubles. Beltre had a double and tried to get that second double, but was nailed. That aside, he went 4-for-7 in the doubleheader with two doubles and two RBIs. Though he only went 1-for-8 in the doubleheader, Richie Sexson proved to be an RBI machine, driving in two in the opener and hitting the grand slam in the nightcap. Yes, he hit .125 in the doubleheader and drove in six runs. It works in mysterious ways, I guess. I'll say it again, but the line of .224 with 8 homers and 26 RBIs does seem a little Mike Cameron-ish, though Sexson's got a little more on the RBI front, I think, compared to the typical Cameron lines we were accustomed to.
I didn't really reap any huge sense of revenge with the Mariners hooking John Halama with the loss. He had some great fill-in starts as a Mariner, and had some good long relief as well. I wish he wasn't a whipping boy of Lou Piniella in his time here, but in a sick way, I guess someone had to be. Anyone else remember the time where Halama ran into some trouble in the first inning, and Lou had someone warming up in the bullpen already? Yeah, those were the days. Remember when the Mariners could win on a regular basis despite their lack of power hitting? Yeah, I do. But hey, the Long Ball makes scoring runs a snap.
Now that Ron Villone's sub-one ERA is up to a more sensible number, JJ Putz and his four up, four down outing has sent his ERA to 0.96. I'm not a terribly huge fan of his, but right now he looks more than ready to step in once again if Eddie Guardado's shoulder explodes or something. Also, what's up with Guardado? A 1-2-3 ninth? Honestly, though, I don't miss the phenomenon that is the Cardiac Ninth. Of course, there hasn't been even a chance for a Cardiac Ninth in A FREAKIN' WEEK.
The losing streak ends at a lucky seven. It had to end somewhere, it had to end somehow. The Rage reference doesn't work as well in the past tense, but the point still rings true. Everyone's glad it's over, everyone's glad there was a big hit, everyone's glad there was a solid start from the rotation, and everyone's glad that Adrian Beltre strung together a good series. Let's hope they build on this.
Meche. Johnson. Today.
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