Saturday, July 09, 2005
GAME 85: MARINERS 10, ANGELS 4
Mariners 10, Angels 4
In 25 words or less: They waited a little while before hanging up the double digits this time. Some old guy also reached a milestone.
This one featured Jamie Moyer, going for career win number 200, against Jarrod Washburn, whose mere presence guaranteed a start for Willie Bloomquist, who batted a much-too-high sixth and played centerfield, marooning Jeremy Reed on the bench once again (it's unjust).
TOP 1ST
Grade: C
The inning's promising start quickly gave way. Ichiro lined a single into rightfield to lead off. Randy Winn nubbed a ball back to the mound, tailor-made for a 1-6-3 double play. Raul Ibañez rolled one to short to end the inning.
BOTTOM 1ST
Grade: B
The Mariners got a couple of good plays. Chone Figgins got ahead 3-1, and later poke a single to rightfield on a full count. Darin Erstad grounded the first pitch down the first-base line where Richie Sexson reached over and threw off-balance to second with his momentum taking him into foul territory. Figgins was out on the 3-6 fielder's choice. Vladimir Guerrero mashed a 2-0 pitch foul and lined out to Lopez on the next pitch. Lopez caught Vlad's liner and threw to first for the double play.
TOP 2ND
Grade: C+
Some promise, but the pay station was not visited. Richie Sexson hit the first pitch hard to third, where Figgins gobbled it up and threw him out. Adrian Beltre hit a sharp grounder up the middle for a single. Willie Bloomquist hit a low liner right to Garret Anderson in leftfield on the first pitch. Mike Morse singled up the middle to move Beltre to third. Jose Lopez flew out behind first base to end the inning.
BOTTOM 2ND
Grade: A
Moyer began to get sharp. Garret Anderson couldn't hold a checkswing on an 0-2 pitch low and away. Bengie Molina flew out off the end of the bat to centerfield. Juan Rivera grounded out to short to end the 1-2-3 inning.
TOP 3RD
Grade: C-
Nothing seemed to be happening yet. Pat Borders couldn't hold a checkswing on a 0-2 pitch down and in. Ichiro fell behind 0-2, and later chopped a ball to third, which Figgins converted off the shorthop. Winn had the hitters' counts, but flew out to first on a full count to end the inning.
BOTTOM 3RD
Grade: B+
There was some measure of offense from the Angels. Maicer Izturis popped out to Moyer in front of the mound. Jeff DaVanon grounded an 0-2 pitch past Sexson and into rightfield for a single. Adam Kennedy had the hitters' counts, and he ended up whiffing on a full count, and DaVanon stole second on the pitch. Figgins bounced the first pitch to short to end the inning.
TOP 4TH
Grade: B
The Mariners drew first blood again. Ibañez worked a 1-2 count full, fouling off some pitches before rolling out to short. Sexson ripped a 2-0 pitch into leftfield for a single. Beltre whiffed on a pitch up and in for the second out of the inning. Bloomquist dinked his second pitch into rightfield for a single, sending Sexson to second. Morse rolled a 2-1 pitch down the rightfield line for what ended up being a double. Sexson came around to score, and Bloomquist went to third.
»» MARINERS 1, ANGELS 0
Lopez flew out to rightfield to end the inning.
BOTTOM 4TH
Grade: B
This could have been a lot worse. Erstad hit an 0-2 low liner toward Winn in leftfield, who looked to have been in position to catch the ball. He lost it in the lights, the ball dropped, and Erstad was credited with the single. Guerrero popped a 3-1 pitch to Sexson in foul ground. Anderson grounded to Beltre for a 5-4 fielder's choice. Molina flew out to Ichiro in rightcenter to end the inning.
TOP 5TH
Grade: B
The Mariners would scratch out another one. Borders bounced the second pitch of the inning off the centerfield grass and over the fence for a ground-rule double. Ichiro fouled off a couple 2-2 pitches before he looked pretty stupid on a ball very low and away. It happens. Winn fell behind 0-2 before working the count full, and then popping the ball high to rightfield. With two out and Borders camped out at second, Ibañez connected with a 1-2 pitch, reaching the track in rightcenter for a double, scoring even the aged Borders.
»» MARINERS 2, ANGELS 0
Sexson took a full-count pitch down and in for ball four. Beltre hit a hard grounder to third, but Figgins played the shorthop nicely once again.
BOTTOM 5TH
Grade: B
There were some cliffhanger moments slowly creeping in. Rivera flew out to rightfield. Izturis was ahead 2-0, but the count fell full before he flew out to leftfield. DaVanon worked a 1-2 count full, fouling off some pitches before getting a dirtball on a full count and advancing to first base. Kennedy fell behind 0-2, but ended up lining out to second.
TOP 6TH
Grade: A
The can was opened. Bloomquist took a 3-1 pitch up and away for ball four. Morse flew out to shallow centerfield. Lopez smoked the first pitch to leftfield to send Bloomquist to second.
Joel Peralta came in for Washburn. With the runners sent, Borders hit a 1-1 grounder down the line to third, which Figgins went over to backhand, only to have it go off the end of his glove and down the line. Bloomquist scored.
»» MARINERS 3, ANGELS 0
Ichiro was intentionally walked to keep the double play in order. That also loaded the bases for Winn, who got a hold of the second pitch he saw, reaching the sixth row or so above the out-of-town scoreboard in rightfield. Hooray for Randy Winn's fifth career grand slam.
»» MARINERS 7, ANGELS 0
Ibañez lined a single into rightfield. Sexson had a 3-1 count, and later took a pitch low and very outside on a full count for a walk. Beltre again whiffed at a pitch up and in. Bloomquist, up for the second time in the inning, bounced a ball to Kennedy, who threw for the forceout at second (4-6).
Washburn's line: 5 1/3 innings, 4 runs, 9 hits, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts, 108 pitches (72 strikes)
BOTTOM 6TH
Grade: C+
The Angels couldn't be held scoreless for the whole series, you know. Figgins singled up the middle into centerfield. Erstad fouled off an 0-2 pitch, then foul-tipped strike three into Borders' glove. Guerrero hit the first pitch hard off Beltre's glove and down the leftfield line, good for a double, and Figgins scooted to third. Anderson got behind 0-2, and whiffed on a 1-2 dirtball change. Molina then golfed a 1-1 pitch out of the yard to rightfield.
»» MARINERS 7, ANGELS 3
Rivera flew out to leftfield to end the inning.
TOP 7TH
Grade: C-
Peralta righted the ship one inning too late. Morse whiffed on some off-speed stuff outside. Lopez whiffed on an 0-2 fastball up and away. Borders whiffed on an 0-2 outside fastball. Yes, he struck out the side.
Peralta's line: 1 2/3 innings, 3 runs, 3 hits, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts, 34 pitches (21 strikes)
BOTTOM 7TH
Grade: C+
It got dicey, and that was even before the bullpen got involved. Izturis popped one to Beltre beside the third-base line in foul territory. DaVanon golfed a 1-1 pitch into the bullpen beyond the leftfield fence. The game officially had entered "interesting" status.
»» MARINERS 7, ANGELS 4
Ron Villone came in for Moyer. He promptly allowed a single up the middle to Kennedy. Figgins hit a hard grounder that was snared by Beltre, who made a spin move and then threw in time to first. Kennedy went to second on the play. Erstad had the hitters' counts, taking the 3-1 pitch outside and in the dirt for a walk.
Jeff Nelson came in for Villone. Guerrero flew out to Ichiro in rightcenter to end the best Angels' threat of the night.
Moyer's line: 6 1/3 innings, 4 runs, 7 hits, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts, 98 pitches (65 strikes)
Villone's line: 1/3 inning, 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts, 11 pitches (5 strikes)
TOP 8TH
Grade: A-
Jake Woods came in for Peralta. Ichiro dinked a single along the leftfield line. Winn flew out to rightfield on the first pitch. With the count 0-2 to Ibañez, Woods threw a bad pickoff throw to first, and Ichiro had taken off for second. Erstad got the bad throw from Woods and tried to throw to second to get Ichiro, but the ball went into leftfield, allowing Ichiro to squeak by to third base. Ibañez hit a 1-2 grounder to second, and Ichiro had taken off on contact. Kennedy fielded the grounder and threw home right away, except the throw was way too high and going toward the backstop. Ichiro scored on the play and Ibañez moved to second.
»» MARINERS 8, ANGELS 4
Kevin Gregg came in for Woods. Sexson flew out to centerfield on the first pitch. Beltre flew out to rightfield on the second pitch.
Woods' line: 1/3 inning, 1 run (unearned), 1 hit, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts, 8 pitches (6 strikes)
BOTTOM 8TH
Grade: B
It remained dicey with the bullpen. Anderson doubled off the wall in rightfield. Molina rolled the ball to second, advancing Anderson to third base. Rivera got ahead 3-0 and ended up taking a 3-1 pitch barely low for a walk.
JJ Putz came in for Nelson. Izturis fouled off a few pitches before taking a full-count pitch for strike three. The play wasn't that simple, though. Rivera took off for second on the pitch, and Borders uncorked a wild throw to second, which was high. Morse caught the ball and went straight home with it since Anderson was breaking for home. It was a bang-bang play, but Borders was called to have tagged Anderson's foot just before it crossed the plate. To recap that, that's a strike-'em-out/throw-'em-out double play, going 2-6-2 in the book.
Nelson's line: 2/3 inning, 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts, 15 pitches (7 strikes)
Putz' line: 2/3 inning, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 walks, 1 strikeout, 8 pitches (5 strikes)
TOP 9TH
Grade: B+
The Mariners pretty much put it out of doubt. Bloomquist walked on four pitches. Morse blooped a single to leftfield, and Bloomquist managed to take third on the play. Lopez took an 0-2 pitch on his left hand, and then took first base after he was deemed to be okay. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Borders chopped the first pitch to Figgins at third, who threw home to start the 5-2-3 double play. Ichiro dumped a 'tweener single into leftcenter to score Morse and Bloomquist and stake the Mariners out to double digits.
»» MARINERS 10, ANGELS 4
Winn flew out to DaVanon in leftcenter to end the inning.
Gregg's line: 1 2/3 innings, 2 runs, 2 hits, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts, 23 pitches (14 strikes)
BOTTOM 9TH
Grade: B-
Eddie Guardado came in for Putz to get in some work before the All-Star break. He went 0-2 on each of the first four hitters he faced. DaVanon poked a 2-2 single into centerfield. Kennedy singled into leftfield. Figgins whiffed on an outside pitch. Erstad popped a 1-2 pitch foul near the third-base line, and Beltre made the basket catch. Guerrero flew out to Ichiro near the foul pole in rightfield on the first pitch. Ballgame.
Guardado's line: 1 inning, 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 walks, 1 strikeout, 17 pitches (14 strikes)
---
Gameball: Mike Morse.
There's a million ways to go with the gameball for this game. Every Mariner hitter had a base hit. Ibañez and Borders had two hits apiece. Ichiro and Morse had three hits apiece. Morse plated the first Mariner run and helped turn in probably the most important play of the game (even causing me to enthusiastically scream "YES!!!" and give an authoritative clap), getting Garret Anderson at the plate after Pat Borders had thrown wide to second trying to get Juan Rivera. That play happened with the Mariners up 8-4 in the bottom of the 8th with runners on the corners and one out. Any damage for the Angels there, and they're defintely back into the game. Instead, Morse makes a play, the Angels don't score, and the Mariners play add-on in the next half-inning and seal the deal. Offensively though, most had thought that his bat had hit the wall a bit lately. Hopefully this will warm him up and give him more time at short. Then Hargrove will eventually have to give Jeremy Reed some time in centerfield again, then Willie Bloomquist will be where he's supposed to be, etc.
Goat: Ron Villone.
It should have been pretty simple for Villone. He came in with one out and nobody on in the seventh with a three-run lead, relieving Jamie Moyer. He allowed a single to the #9 hitter. Beltre turned in a nice play on Figgins, but then Villone buried the 3-1 pitch to Darin Erstad to make him the most worthless Mariner in this game, mostly since every Mariner hitter got a hit. He made an already dicey situation more treacherous. He was pulled, and Jeff Nelson was left to try to retire Vladimir Guerrero, who represented the tying run with two out. Luckily Nelson came through. Of course, Villone was suffering recently with some neck stiffness, so take what you will from that. He was cleared to play though.
Yr W-L Pct GB Stk
2001 62-23 .726 -- W1
2002 54-31 .635 8 W2
2003 54-31 .635 8 L2
2000 50-35 .588 12 W1
2005 37-48 .435 25 W2
2004 32-53 .376 30 L8
Congratulations to Jamie Moyer on his 200th career win. I posed this question toward the end of the game thread, and here it is -- when Jamie Moyer hangs it up, does he get his number retired in Safeco Field? The first era of Mariner goodness would yield the obvious candidates of Ken Griffey, Jr., Randy Johnson, and Edgar Martinez. Does Moyer belong with this list? Sure, he's not flashy, but look at the time he's done here in Seattle. He's the crafty lefthander that truly found his way in Seattle. I think we've all been blessed in Seattle to see this guy make it with slow, slower, and slowest. It was especially fun seeing that stuff in the same rotation with Randy Johnson, for the short time in which that was indeed the case. Anyway, I think Moyer's #50 jersey hangs in the rafters with the group of Griffey/Johnson/Edgar when the two active thirds of that trio hang it up too.
Fifteen hits qualifies as a hit explosion, right? The Mariners hung ten runs on the Angels for the second straight night. The starting pitchers in this series for the Angels have been no less than Bartolo Colon and Jarrod Washburn. It was great hearing the FSN West crew (Steve Physioc/Rex Hudler) trying to hype Colon as a possible All-Star Game starter. Probably east coast bias here, but I saw SportsCenter earlier with a poll question about who should start the All-Star Game, and their two AL choices were Jon Garland and Roy Halladay. I just like to see the Angels get screwed. Shock the monkey. Needless to say, the well has to run dry at some point. That can either happen after the break, or it can happen tonight when Ryan Franklin takes the mound.
A night after going 2-for-3 with two walks, Richie Sexson went 1-for-3 with two more walks. It's good for his average and on-base percentage and stuff, and he's not making outs, but he'd argue that it means he's not going yard either (hence less strikeouts). Still, he's 3-for-6 through two games in the series with four walks. His average is sitting at .253.
Wilson Valdez and the Exxon Valdez were the whole reason The Pump was born at Sports and Bremertonians. In the early part of the season, we grew accustomed to having goose eggs in the H column next to the names of Wilson Valdez and Miguel Olivo. Look at the bottom third of the lineup, and you get Morse's line of 3-for-5, Lopez with a 1-for-4, and Borders and his AARP bulletin checking in with a 2-for-5. With Valdez and Olivo, you never had a day where the bottom third of the lineup went 6-for-14. Well, maybe there's a chance that happened once or twice when Randy Winn batted seventh, but maybe not.
Randy Winn has clubbed homers in consecutive games, doubling his home run output for the season. He went 2-for-4 in the first game of the series, and turned in a weird line in this game. Though he whacked the grand slam, he went 1-for-6. At least that one hit was a biggie. His average has still plummeted from the reaches of near .300 down to its current .267. But hey, grand slams are cool, I like them when my team hits them and stuff. They make me smile and want to eat Dots, but not gumdrops. Also, how sad is it that I can't wax poetic about Ichiro's 3-for-5 day? I just don't know what to say. He does what he does. His bat is also warming up a fair amount, I'd have to say. Throwing Raul Ibañez into the mix, the top three in the lineup combined for 8 RBIs, going 6-for-16.
I think what I said about Villone is just about all I want to say about the bullpen. If Putz would have loaded the bases in the 8th, there was no way in hell I was going to leave him in, I know that (even if it would have been Jeff DaVanon). Eddie Guardado's 9th inning reminded me of any time that Kazuhiro Sasaki would come in whenever there wasn't a save situation. It just seemed like everything went to crap if the lead was 4 or more, if the Mariners were behind, or if it was a tie game. Sasaki had to have a lead of one, two, or three for me to feel comfortable with him on the mound. It seemed he was a zoo otherwise. Now he's over in Japan teaming up with his second wife and stuff.
The Mariners have two chances to take a series win against the Angels into the break. Can they do it? We'll see.
Franklin. Lackey. Tonight.
In 25 words or less: They waited a little while before hanging up the double digits this time. Some old guy also reached a milestone.
This one featured Jamie Moyer, going for career win number 200, against Jarrod Washburn, whose mere presence guaranteed a start for Willie Bloomquist, who batted a much-too-high sixth and played centerfield, marooning Jeremy Reed on the bench once again (it's unjust).
TOP 1ST
Grade: C
The inning's promising start quickly gave way. Ichiro lined a single into rightfield to lead off. Randy Winn nubbed a ball back to the mound, tailor-made for a 1-6-3 double play. Raul Ibañez rolled one to short to end the inning.
BOTTOM 1ST
Grade: B
The Mariners got a couple of good plays. Chone Figgins got ahead 3-1, and later poke a single to rightfield on a full count. Darin Erstad grounded the first pitch down the first-base line where Richie Sexson reached over and threw off-balance to second with his momentum taking him into foul territory. Figgins was out on the 3-6 fielder's choice. Vladimir Guerrero mashed a 2-0 pitch foul and lined out to Lopez on the next pitch. Lopez caught Vlad's liner and threw to first for the double play.
TOP 2ND
Grade: C+
Some promise, but the pay station was not visited. Richie Sexson hit the first pitch hard to third, where Figgins gobbled it up and threw him out. Adrian Beltre hit a sharp grounder up the middle for a single. Willie Bloomquist hit a low liner right to Garret Anderson in leftfield on the first pitch. Mike Morse singled up the middle to move Beltre to third. Jose Lopez flew out behind first base to end the inning.
BOTTOM 2ND
Grade: A
Moyer began to get sharp. Garret Anderson couldn't hold a checkswing on an 0-2 pitch low and away. Bengie Molina flew out off the end of the bat to centerfield. Juan Rivera grounded out to short to end the 1-2-3 inning.
TOP 3RD
Grade: C-
Nothing seemed to be happening yet. Pat Borders couldn't hold a checkswing on a 0-2 pitch down and in. Ichiro fell behind 0-2, and later chopped a ball to third, which Figgins converted off the shorthop. Winn had the hitters' counts, but flew out to first on a full count to end the inning.
BOTTOM 3RD
Grade: B+
There was some measure of offense from the Angels. Maicer Izturis popped out to Moyer in front of the mound. Jeff DaVanon grounded an 0-2 pitch past Sexson and into rightfield for a single. Adam Kennedy had the hitters' counts, and he ended up whiffing on a full count, and DaVanon stole second on the pitch. Figgins bounced the first pitch to short to end the inning.
TOP 4TH
Grade: B
The Mariners drew first blood again. Ibañez worked a 1-2 count full, fouling off some pitches before rolling out to short. Sexson ripped a 2-0 pitch into leftfield for a single. Beltre whiffed on a pitch up and in for the second out of the inning. Bloomquist dinked his second pitch into rightfield for a single, sending Sexson to second. Morse rolled a 2-1 pitch down the rightfield line for what ended up being a double. Sexson came around to score, and Bloomquist went to third.
»» MARINERS 1, ANGELS 0
Lopez flew out to rightfield to end the inning.
BOTTOM 4TH
Grade: B
This could have been a lot worse. Erstad hit an 0-2 low liner toward Winn in leftfield, who looked to have been in position to catch the ball. He lost it in the lights, the ball dropped, and Erstad was credited with the single. Guerrero popped a 3-1 pitch to Sexson in foul ground. Anderson grounded to Beltre for a 5-4 fielder's choice. Molina flew out to Ichiro in rightcenter to end the inning.
TOP 5TH
Grade: B
The Mariners would scratch out another one. Borders bounced the second pitch of the inning off the centerfield grass and over the fence for a ground-rule double. Ichiro fouled off a couple 2-2 pitches before he looked pretty stupid on a ball very low and away. It happens. Winn fell behind 0-2 before working the count full, and then popping the ball high to rightfield. With two out and Borders camped out at second, Ibañez connected with a 1-2 pitch, reaching the track in rightcenter for a double, scoring even the aged Borders.
»» MARINERS 2, ANGELS 0
Sexson took a full-count pitch down and in for ball four. Beltre hit a hard grounder to third, but Figgins played the shorthop nicely once again.
BOTTOM 5TH
Grade: B
There were some cliffhanger moments slowly creeping in. Rivera flew out to rightfield. Izturis was ahead 2-0, but the count fell full before he flew out to leftfield. DaVanon worked a 1-2 count full, fouling off some pitches before getting a dirtball on a full count and advancing to first base. Kennedy fell behind 0-2, but ended up lining out to second.
TOP 6TH
Grade: A
The can was opened. Bloomquist took a 3-1 pitch up and away for ball four. Morse flew out to shallow centerfield. Lopez smoked the first pitch to leftfield to send Bloomquist to second.
Joel Peralta came in for Washburn. With the runners sent, Borders hit a 1-1 grounder down the line to third, which Figgins went over to backhand, only to have it go off the end of his glove and down the line. Bloomquist scored.
»» MARINERS 3, ANGELS 0
Ichiro was intentionally walked to keep the double play in order. That also loaded the bases for Winn, who got a hold of the second pitch he saw, reaching the sixth row or so above the out-of-town scoreboard in rightfield. Hooray for Randy Winn's fifth career grand slam.
»» MARINERS 7, ANGELS 0
Ibañez lined a single into rightfield. Sexson had a 3-1 count, and later took a pitch low and very outside on a full count for a walk. Beltre again whiffed at a pitch up and in. Bloomquist, up for the second time in the inning, bounced a ball to Kennedy, who threw for the forceout at second (4-6).
Washburn's line: 5 1/3 innings, 4 runs, 9 hits, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts, 108 pitches (72 strikes)
BOTTOM 6TH
Grade: C+
The Angels couldn't be held scoreless for the whole series, you know. Figgins singled up the middle into centerfield. Erstad fouled off an 0-2 pitch, then foul-tipped strike three into Borders' glove. Guerrero hit the first pitch hard off Beltre's glove and down the leftfield line, good for a double, and Figgins scooted to third. Anderson got behind 0-2, and whiffed on a 1-2 dirtball change. Molina then golfed a 1-1 pitch out of the yard to rightfield.
»» MARINERS 7, ANGELS 3
Rivera flew out to leftfield to end the inning.
TOP 7TH
Grade: C-
Peralta righted the ship one inning too late. Morse whiffed on some off-speed stuff outside. Lopez whiffed on an 0-2 fastball up and away. Borders whiffed on an 0-2 outside fastball. Yes, he struck out the side.
Peralta's line: 1 2/3 innings, 3 runs, 3 hits, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts, 34 pitches (21 strikes)
BOTTOM 7TH
Grade: C+
It got dicey, and that was even before the bullpen got involved. Izturis popped one to Beltre beside the third-base line in foul territory. DaVanon golfed a 1-1 pitch into the bullpen beyond the leftfield fence. The game officially had entered "interesting" status.
»» MARINERS 7, ANGELS 4
Ron Villone came in for Moyer. He promptly allowed a single up the middle to Kennedy. Figgins hit a hard grounder that was snared by Beltre, who made a spin move and then threw in time to first. Kennedy went to second on the play. Erstad had the hitters' counts, taking the 3-1 pitch outside and in the dirt for a walk.
Jeff Nelson came in for Villone. Guerrero flew out to Ichiro in rightcenter to end the best Angels' threat of the night.
Moyer's line: 6 1/3 innings, 4 runs, 7 hits, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts, 98 pitches (65 strikes)
Villone's line: 1/3 inning, 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts, 11 pitches (5 strikes)
TOP 8TH
Grade: A-
Jake Woods came in for Peralta. Ichiro dinked a single along the leftfield line. Winn flew out to rightfield on the first pitch. With the count 0-2 to Ibañez, Woods threw a bad pickoff throw to first, and Ichiro had taken off for second. Erstad got the bad throw from Woods and tried to throw to second to get Ichiro, but the ball went into leftfield, allowing Ichiro to squeak by to third base. Ibañez hit a 1-2 grounder to second, and Ichiro had taken off on contact. Kennedy fielded the grounder and threw home right away, except the throw was way too high and going toward the backstop. Ichiro scored on the play and Ibañez moved to second.
»» MARINERS 8, ANGELS 4
Kevin Gregg came in for Woods. Sexson flew out to centerfield on the first pitch. Beltre flew out to rightfield on the second pitch.
Woods' line: 1/3 inning, 1 run (unearned), 1 hit, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts, 8 pitches (6 strikes)
BOTTOM 8TH
Grade: B
It remained dicey with the bullpen. Anderson doubled off the wall in rightfield. Molina rolled the ball to second, advancing Anderson to third base. Rivera got ahead 3-0 and ended up taking a 3-1 pitch barely low for a walk.
JJ Putz came in for Nelson. Izturis fouled off a few pitches before taking a full-count pitch for strike three. The play wasn't that simple, though. Rivera took off for second on the pitch, and Borders uncorked a wild throw to second, which was high. Morse caught the ball and went straight home with it since Anderson was breaking for home. It was a bang-bang play, but Borders was called to have tagged Anderson's foot just before it crossed the plate. To recap that, that's a strike-'em-out/throw-'em-out double play, going 2-6-2 in the book.
Nelson's line: 2/3 inning, 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts, 15 pitches (7 strikes)
Putz' line: 2/3 inning, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 walks, 1 strikeout, 8 pitches (5 strikes)
TOP 9TH
Grade: B+
The Mariners pretty much put it out of doubt. Bloomquist walked on four pitches. Morse blooped a single to leftfield, and Bloomquist managed to take third on the play. Lopez took an 0-2 pitch on his left hand, and then took first base after he was deemed to be okay. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Borders chopped the first pitch to Figgins at third, who threw home to start the 5-2-3 double play. Ichiro dumped a 'tweener single into leftcenter to score Morse and Bloomquist and stake the Mariners out to double digits.
»» MARINERS 10, ANGELS 4
Winn flew out to DaVanon in leftcenter to end the inning.
Gregg's line: 1 2/3 innings, 2 runs, 2 hits, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts, 23 pitches (14 strikes)
BOTTOM 9TH
Grade: B-
Eddie Guardado came in for Putz to get in some work before the All-Star break. He went 0-2 on each of the first four hitters he faced. DaVanon poked a 2-2 single into centerfield. Kennedy singled into leftfield. Figgins whiffed on an outside pitch. Erstad popped a 1-2 pitch foul near the third-base line, and Beltre made the basket catch. Guerrero flew out to Ichiro near the foul pole in rightfield on the first pitch. Ballgame.
Guardado's line: 1 inning, 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 walks, 1 strikeout, 17 pitches (14 strikes)
---
Gameball: Mike Morse.
There's a million ways to go with the gameball for this game. Every Mariner hitter had a base hit. Ibañez and Borders had two hits apiece. Ichiro and Morse had three hits apiece. Morse plated the first Mariner run and helped turn in probably the most important play of the game (even causing me to enthusiastically scream "YES!!!" and give an authoritative clap), getting Garret Anderson at the plate after Pat Borders had thrown wide to second trying to get Juan Rivera. That play happened with the Mariners up 8-4 in the bottom of the 8th with runners on the corners and one out. Any damage for the Angels there, and they're defintely back into the game. Instead, Morse makes a play, the Angels don't score, and the Mariners play add-on in the next half-inning and seal the deal. Offensively though, most had thought that his bat had hit the wall a bit lately. Hopefully this will warm him up and give him more time at short. Then Hargrove will eventually have to give Jeremy Reed some time in centerfield again, then Willie Bloomquist will be where he's supposed to be, etc.
Goat: Ron Villone.
It should have been pretty simple for Villone. He came in with one out and nobody on in the seventh with a three-run lead, relieving Jamie Moyer. He allowed a single to the #9 hitter. Beltre turned in a nice play on Figgins, but then Villone buried the 3-1 pitch to Darin Erstad to make him the most worthless Mariner in this game, mostly since every Mariner hitter got a hit. He made an already dicey situation more treacherous. He was pulled, and Jeff Nelson was left to try to retire Vladimir Guerrero, who represented the tying run with two out. Luckily Nelson came through. Of course, Villone was suffering recently with some neck stiffness, so take what you will from that. He was cleared to play though.
Yr W-L Pct GB Stk
2001 62-23 .726 -- W1
2002 54-31 .635 8 W2
2003 54-31 .635 8 L2
2000 50-35 .588 12 W1
2005 37-48 .435 25 W2
2004 32-53 .376 30 L8
Congratulations to Jamie Moyer on his 200th career win. I posed this question toward the end of the game thread, and here it is -- when Jamie Moyer hangs it up, does he get his number retired in Safeco Field? The first era of Mariner goodness would yield the obvious candidates of Ken Griffey, Jr., Randy Johnson, and Edgar Martinez. Does Moyer belong with this list? Sure, he's not flashy, but look at the time he's done here in Seattle. He's the crafty lefthander that truly found his way in Seattle. I think we've all been blessed in Seattle to see this guy make it with slow, slower, and slowest. It was especially fun seeing that stuff in the same rotation with Randy Johnson, for the short time in which that was indeed the case. Anyway, I think Moyer's #50 jersey hangs in the rafters with the group of Griffey/Johnson/Edgar when the two active thirds of that trio hang it up too.
Fifteen hits qualifies as a hit explosion, right? The Mariners hung ten runs on the Angels for the second straight night. The starting pitchers in this series for the Angels have been no less than Bartolo Colon and Jarrod Washburn. It was great hearing the FSN West crew (Steve Physioc/Rex Hudler) trying to hype Colon as a possible All-Star Game starter. Probably east coast bias here, but I saw SportsCenter earlier with a poll question about who should start the All-Star Game, and their two AL choices were Jon Garland and Roy Halladay. I just like to see the Angels get screwed. Shock the monkey. Needless to say, the well has to run dry at some point. That can either happen after the break, or it can happen tonight when Ryan Franklin takes the mound.
A night after going 2-for-3 with two walks, Richie Sexson went 1-for-3 with two more walks. It's good for his average and on-base percentage and stuff, and he's not making outs, but he'd argue that it means he's not going yard either (hence less strikeouts). Still, he's 3-for-6 through two games in the series with four walks. His average is sitting at .253.
Wilson Valdez and the Exxon Valdez were the whole reason The Pump was born at Sports and Bremertonians. In the early part of the season, we grew accustomed to having goose eggs in the H column next to the names of Wilson Valdez and Miguel Olivo. Look at the bottom third of the lineup, and you get Morse's line of 3-for-5, Lopez with a 1-for-4, and Borders and his AARP bulletin checking in with a 2-for-5. With Valdez and Olivo, you never had a day where the bottom third of the lineup went 6-for-14. Well, maybe there's a chance that happened once or twice when Randy Winn batted seventh, but maybe not.
Randy Winn has clubbed homers in consecutive games, doubling his home run output for the season. He went 2-for-4 in the first game of the series, and turned in a weird line in this game. Though he whacked the grand slam, he went 1-for-6. At least that one hit was a biggie. His average has still plummeted from the reaches of near .300 down to its current .267. But hey, grand slams are cool, I like them when my team hits them and stuff. They make me smile and want to eat Dots, but not gumdrops. Also, how sad is it that I can't wax poetic about Ichiro's 3-for-5 day? I just don't know what to say. He does what he does. His bat is also warming up a fair amount, I'd have to say. Throwing Raul Ibañez into the mix, the top three in the lineup combined for 8 RBIs, going 6-for-16.
I think what I said about Villone is just about all I want to say about the bullpen. If Putz would have loaded the bases in the 8th, there was no way in hell I was going to leave him in, I know that (even if it would have been Jeff DaVanon). Eddie Guardado's 9th inning reminded me of any time that Kazuhiro Sasaki would come in whenever there wasn't a save situation. It just seemed like everything went to crap if the lead was 4 or more, if the Mariners were behind, or if it was a tie game. Sasaki had to have a lead of one, two, or three for me to feel comfortable with him on the mound. It seemed he was a zoo otherwise. Now he's over in Japan teaming up with his second wife and stuff.
The Mariners have two chances to take a series win against the Angels into the break. Can they do it? We'll see.
Franklin. Lackey. Tonight.
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