Sunday, July 10, 2005
GAME 87: MARINERS 7, ANGELS 4
Mariners 7, Angels 4
In 25 words or less: Holy Broom Hilda! The Mariners sweep the Angels to win their sixth game in eight tries, thanks to timely hitting and good-enough pitching.
This one featured the ever-so-enigmatic Gil Meche going up against Ervin Santana. The Mariners had already won the series by taking the third game of the series the day before. They were trying to sweep the Angels and take their momentum into the All-Star break. The Angels were trying to conjure up their monkey and stuff. Boo.
TOP 1ST
Grade: B-
The two-out thing almost struck gold again. Ichiro slapped a full-count grounder to short. Randy Winn tapped one back to the mound. Raul Ibañez got ahead 2-0, and took a full-count pitch high and outside for a walk. Richie Sexson walked on a full count as well. Adrian Beltre took a mighty hack at a 3-1 pitch, but too the next pitch in the dirt for a walk. Santana had walked the bases loaded, though there were two out. Jeremy Reed managed a decent at-bat, falling behind 0-2 but then working the count full. Too bad he took the next pitch for strike three, though he thought it was low and started jogging toward first. Oh well. Santana's pitch count was way up, at least.
BOTTOM 1ST
Grade: D
It wasn't a pretty beginning for Meche. Chone Figgins blooped a single over Willie Bloomquist at short and into leftcenter. Darin Erstad hit the 3-1 pitch to Meche, who knocked it down and appeared to throw to first for the out. Figgins had gone to third on the play but was sent back to second. Erstad was awarded first. It turns out that Erstad nicked Olivo's glove during his swing again, convincing me that Erstad's back foot is probably three feet behind the back line of the batters' box. Vladimir Guerrero whiffed on a 1-2 breaking ball low and outside, losing his helmet for the second time in the at-bat. Garret Anderson flew out to left. Juan Rivera fell behind 0-2, but would end up singling through the hole on the right side to score Figgins and give the Angels the lead.
»» ANGELS 1, MARINERS 0
Bengie Molina grounded the 2-0 pitch up the middle, and second baseman Jose Lopez dove for the ball and threw to Bloomquist, who was late covering the bag at second. Bloomquist threw home trying to get Erstad, but that was late as well. The throw got away from Olivo, but nobody advanced.
»» ANGELS 2, MARINERS 0
Maicer Izturis flew out foul to Bloomquist near the leftfield line on the first pitch.
TOP 2ND
Grade: C-
Nothing much here. Willie Bloomquist flew out to Erstad in foul territory near the stands. Jose Lopez bounced out to third. Miguel Olivo worked a 1-2 count full, but flew out high to second.
BOTTOM 2ND
Grade: A
Meche bounced back. Jeff DaVanon whiffed on a 1-2 breaking ball down and in. Adam Kennedy whiffed on an 0-2 pitch. Figgins took a 1-2 fastball over the inside corner.
TOP 3RD
Grade: B
The clutch meter showed some life. Ichiro slapped the second pitch through the left side for a single. Winn got ahead 3-1 and would later bloop a high fly ball into leftcenter, where Anderson had the ball go off the end of his glove. DaVanon got the ball and threw past Kennedy at second, and the runners were safe. Ibañez had the hitters' counts and slapped the 3-1 pitch off the top of the wall in leftfield. It was good for a double, and Ichiro and Winn scored from second and first, respectively, to tie the score.
»» ANGELS 2, MARINERS 2
Sexson popped the first pitch foul to Erstad. Beltre whiffed on a low 1-2 pitch. Reed flew out to first.
BOTTOM 3RD
Grade: C+
Meche would falter again. Erstad drew a four-pitch leadoff walk. Guerrero hit a laser on the first pitch right to Beltre, who was able to snag it at the very hot corner. Anderson hit a hard single over Sexson, who debatably should have had it, and Erstad moved to third. Rivera grounded a ball to third, where Beltre made a diving stop and tried to roll the double play. The throw to first wasn't in time, and Erstad scored to retake the lead for the Angels.
»» ANGELS 3, MARINERS 2
Rivera took off for second on the 1-2 pitch to Molina, but was gunned down by Olivo.
TOP 4TH
Grade: A
All hell broke loose. Bloomquist hit the second pitch into the hap in leftcenter, good for a double. Lopez slapped the first pitch down the rightfield line, good for a double as well, and Bloomquist scored to tie the game up once again.
»» ANGELS 3, MARINERS 3
Olivo smoked a 1-1 pitch into the seats in leftfield, near the line. Surprise!
»» MARINERS 5, ANGELS 3
Kevin Gregg came in for Santana. Ichiro fell behind 0-2, and would ground the 1-2 pitch slowly into the hole at short, but Izturis couldn't throw over in time, and Erstad had to dive to stop the ball (single). Winn fouled off an 0-2 pitch, then Ichiro broke for second and got in under the tag. Winn whiffed on a 1-2 outside pitch. Ibañez bounced out to second. Sexson smoked his first pitch six rows back into the rightfield seats above the scoreboard. That's good.
»» MARINERS 7, ANGELS 3
Beltre grounded a 2-0 pitch up the middle, but Izturis plugged up the hole and threw him out.
Santana's line: 3 innings, 5 runs, 6 hits, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts, 78 pitches (46 strikes)
BOTTOM 4TH
Grade: A
Meche appeared to buckle down. Molina flew out high to left on an 0-2 pitch. Izturis lined a ball to Lopez, and he had to climb the ladder, jumping to spear the line drive. DaVanon hit a fly to centerfield, and Reed had to drift back and reach up to make the catch.
TOP 5TH
Grade: C-
Not much from the bats here. Reed grounded out to second. Bloomquist flew out to center. Lopez grounded a 2-0 pitch to the left side, and Figgins made a diving stop and threw from his knees in time to first.
BOTTOM 5TH
Grade: B+
Meche would face three batters, though not in the easiest manner. Kennedy rolled out to short. Figgins got ahead 3-0, but the count fell full before he singled into leftfield. Erstad grounded the second pitch to Lopez, who started the 4-6-3 double play.
TOP 6TH
Grade: C-
Gregg fired back with a 1-2-3 inning of his own. Olivo whiffed on a 1-2 pitch. Ichiro got ahead 2-0 and later rolled out to short. Winn bounced out to short to end the inning.
Gregg's line: 3 innings, 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts, 41 pitches (26 strikes)
BOTTOM 6TH
Grade: B
Meche fell victim to an inevitability. Guerrero got a 2-2 pitch high and over the plate, crushing it over the wall in straightaway centerfield.
»» MARINERS 7, ANGELS 4
Anderson bounced a ball to first, and Sexson ran it to the bag. Rivera flew out high to Reed in leftcenter. Molina tapped a 1-2 pitch to Meche, who knocked it down and threw to first.
Meche's line: 6 innings, 4 runs (2 earned), 6 hits, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts, 99 pitches (63 strikes)
TOP 7TH
Grade: C-
Scot Shields came in for Gregg. Ibañez ripped a 1-2 pitch barely foul down the rightfield line. He ended up failing to check his swing on a pitch very high and outside. Sexson whiffed on a 2-2 pitch down and in. Beltre had the hitters' counts, nearly hitting a double down the rightfield line, but grounding out to short on a full count.
BOTTOM 7TH
Grade: B-
Julio Mateo came in for Meche. Izturis grounded out to short. DaVanon fell behind 0-2, but fouled off a few pitches during the course of his at-bat, eventually flying out to left. Kennedy double off the wall in rightcenter on his first pitch.
Ron Villone came in for Mateo. Figgins got the hitters' counts and took a 3-1 dirtball for a walk. Erstad whiffed on a 1-2 pitch low and away, but the ball rolled up Olivo's arm and got away along the third-base line, and Erstad took first as the bases were loaded.
Jeff Nelson came in for Nelson. Guerrero got behind 1-2, fouled off a 2-2 pitch, then couldn't check his swing on a pitch quite low and away (first-base umpire appeal). It was quite the clutch strikeout for Nelson and the Mariners.
Mateo's line: 2/3 inning, 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts, 12 pitches (10 strikes)
Villone's line: 0 innings, 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 walk, 1 strikeout, 10 pitches (5 strikes)
TOP 8TH
Grade: C+
The Mariners couldn't quite muster up another run. Reed laid down a drag bunt which got past Shields, and Reed had first base as Kennedy couldn't come up with the ball. Bloomquist grounded a ball to second for a 4-6 fielder's choice as Reed had a good slide to break up any thought of a double play. Lopez chopped the ball over Erstad and into rightfield for a single, sending Bloomquist to third. Olivo whiffed on a 2-2 pitch low and away. Ichiro flew out to Rivera in rightcenter.
Shields' line: 2 innings, 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 walks, 3 strikeouts, 35 pitches (23 strikes)
BOTTOM 8TH
Grade: A-
Nelson held it down for another inning. Anderson flew out to Reed in leftcenter on the first pitch. Rivera bounced the 3-1 pitch to short. Molina flew out to Reed in leftcenter to end the inning.
Nelson's line: 1 1/3 innings, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 walks, 1 strikeout, 15 pitches (9 strikes)
TOP 9TH
Grade: C
Francisco Rodriguez came in for Shields. Winn fisted his 0-2 pitch for a soft lineout to second. Ibañez got behind 0-2, later taking a 1-2 fastball for strike three. Sexson fouled off a 2-2 pitch, somehow took the next pitch barely off the outside corner, then took a slider low and away for ball four. Beltre worked a 1-2 count full, fouling off three pitches along the way before whiffing at a full-count fastball.
Rodriguez' line: 1 inning, 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts, 23 pitches (15 strikes)
BOTTOM 9TH
Grade: B+
Eddie Guardado came in for Nelson. Izturis fell behind 0-2 and whiffed on a 1-2 pitch over the outside corner. DaVanon got ahead 2-0, but whiffed on a high 2-2 pitch. Kennedy doubled down the rightfield line into the corner, off the foul pole, and into the crowd for a double. Figgins worked a 1-2 count full, but flew out on a full count to Lopez in shallow rightfield, nearly colliding with Ichiro. Ballgame.
Guardado's line: 1 inning, 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts, 18 pitches (11 strikes)
---
Gameball: Jose Lopez.
It's bad when you cut Bret Boone and then end up getting no net offensive gain, since you're losing a bit on defense anyway. Luckily, Jose Lopez showed some signs of life at the plate today, going 2-for-4 with the game-tying double and RBI in the fourth. That accounted for the first run in the gargantuan five-run inning. Lopez also started a double play to end the fifth inning. Even still, and I've said this, I'm still not comfortable with Jose Lopez as a Major League hitter, but he hasn't been up for too long. I've got to give him time, and the fans should probably do the same. I'd like to ask and encourage everyone out there right now to please try to think of a better nickname than Lopey (already used), or worse yet, J-Lo. I'd seriously slap someone if I heard them call Lopez J-Lo. Don't try me.
Goat: Ron Villone.
Futility once again, and it ended up nearly exactly like it did in the second game of the series. Villone crapped up the situation, and Nelson (arguable gameball) had to face Vladimir Guerrero and bail everyone out. In Friday's game, Villone sandwiched an out with a single and a walk. In today's game, he went 2-0 and 3-1 on Figgins, and buried the 3-1 pitch. Then he buried a 1-2 pitch to Erstad as well, but he swung at it. Of course, the ball got away from Miguel Olivo, which may or may not be Villone's fault given what we know about Olivo's blocking ability. But hey, we've been hearing it for the past two years -- Ron Villone is effectively wild. Something like that. I sure haven't been believing it, and it's still not lost on me that the Mariners are overpaying him, which I argued over with some guy at Mariner FanFest months ago. He tried to play the versatility card. Vomit.
Yr W-L Pct GB Stk
2001 63-24 .724 -- W1
2003 55-32 .632 8 L1
2002 54-33 .621 9 L2
2000 51-36 .586 12 L1
2005 39-48 .448 24 W4
2004 33-54 .379 30 W1
How sweep it is! Man, I really don't like the Angels. Shock the monkey, all that stuff. This was quite the turn in fortune after the Mariners dropped the series in Kansas City, which was inexcusable. All in all, it was great seeing the Mariners crush the Angels in the first two games of the series, and then hold off the Angels in the final two games of the series, getting some very timely hitting. Yes, Bartolo Colon, Jarrod Washburn, John Lackey, and Ervin Santana, all falling victim to the sudden Mariner offensive juggernaut. It's a beautiful thing, really. The only bad thing about sweeping the four games in Orange County when they did is that now they have the All-Star break. Hopefully on Thursday the Mariners can pick up right where they left off. Hopefully the All-Star break doesn't stop them dead in their tracks. Of course, they say momentum is your next day's starting pitcher, but that's been a good and bad thing this year, mostly bad.
Two Mariners had a multi-hit game in this one. I covered Jose Lopez with the gameball entry. The other was Ichiro. I'm glad he's picking it up a bit. He went 2-for-5 and scored two of the Mariners' runs. Conversely, only one Mariner went hitless, and that was Adrian Beltre. However, he wasn't totally worthless thanks to some very key defensive plays.
That leaves six other hits scattered across the remaining six hitters in the lineup. Miguel Olivo and Richie Sexson made the most of their hits, hitting a two-run homer apiece, turning a tie game into a four-run Mariner lead in the fourth. As nice as it is to see Jose Lopez provide some offensive spark at second base, it's also nice to see Miguel Olivo get something -- anything -- to possibly give him a morsel of confidence when he's up there with a bat in his hands. It's just nice to know that he still has the ability to hit a mistake, and to park it. Also driving in two runs was Raul Ibañez in the third inning, whose double tied the game at 2-2.
Usually with Gil Meche there will be a few moments where I think he'll just fall off the rail and give way to the customary big inning. The first inning was definitely not the nicest inning to watch, though he only gave up two runs. Walking Darin Erstad on four pitches to lead off the inning right after the Mariners tied the game wasn't a good thing, and that run did come around to score. After the Mariners turned a one-run deficit into a four-run lead, Meche pretty much went to cruise control, allowing only the Vladimir Guerrero mortar shot in the sixth, which was an inevitability in the series.
On Friday, with the Mariners up 7-4, Jeff Nelson struck out Vladimir Guerrero with two men on. Today, Nelson struck out Guerrero once again with the same score, this time with the bases loaded. That was so clutch it was sick. Jeff Nelson's old, yes, but these two appearances prove that there is indeed something left in the tank. If nothing else, thank goodness Nelson was there to mop up the mess that Ron Villone made. Great googly-moogly.
Eddie Guardado got his 21st save in 22 opportunities, and he's been an absolute joy to watch in his time in Seattle, which may soon be at a close next month or next offseason. Ichiro stole his 20th base in the game. One's an All-Star, one's not. As I said a couple days ago, enjoy the break, Eddie.
With this, the Mariners roll into the break with a record of 39-48, six games better than the 2004 pace, and the first time they've been nine games under .500 since June 28th against Oakland, the first game of that road series, and the third of what ended up being seven straight losses. A .448 winning percentage, if maintained, would translate into a season-end mark of 73-89, ten games better than last year. Might that seem crappy? Sure. You don't want your team going 73-89. But guess what? Ten games of improvement over the year before is pretty good. I was hoping for a 14-win gain, but hey, if they just keep up their pace right now, it's an improvement of ten games. This team's not gonna be good overnight, kids.
Oriole pitcher. Mariner pitcher. Thursday.
In 25 words or less: Holy Broom Hilda! The Mariners sweep the Angels to win their sixth game in eight tries, thanks to timely hitting and good-enough pitching.
This one featured the ever-so-enigmatic Gil Meche going up against Ervin Santana. The Mariners had already won the series by taking the third game of the series the day before. They were trying to sweep the Angels and take their momentum into the All-Star break. The Angels were trying to conjure up their monkey and stuff. Boo.
TOP 1ST
Grade: B-
The two-out thing almost struck gold again. Ichiro slapped a full-count grounder to short. Randy Winn tapped one back to the mound. Raul Ibañez got ahead 2-0, and took a full-count pitch high and outside for a walk. Richie Sexson walked on a full count as well. Adrian Beltre took a mighty hack at a 3-1 pitch, but too the next pitch in the dirt for a walk. Santana had walked the bases loaded, though there were two out. Jeremy Reed managed a decent at-bat, falling behind 0-2 but then working the count full. Too bad he took the next pitch for strike three, though he thought it was low and started jogging toward first. Oh well. Santana's pitch count was way up, at least.
BOTTOM 1ST
Grade: D
It wasn't a pretty beginning for Meche. Chone Figgins blooped a single over Willie Bloomquist at short and into leftcenter. Darin Erstad hit the 3-1 pitch to Meche, who knocked it down and appeared to throw to first for the out. Figgins had gone to third on the play but was sent back to second. Erstad was awarded first. It turns out that Erstad nicked Olivo's glove during his swing again, convincing me that Erstad's back foot is probably three feet behind the back line of the batters' box. Vladimir Guerrero whiffed on a 1-2 breaking ball low and outside, losing his helmet for the second time in the at-bat. Garret Anderson flew out to left. Juan Rivera fell behind 0-2, but would end up singling through the hole on the right side to score Figgins and give the Angels the lead.
»» ANGELS 1, MARINERS 0
Bengie Molina grounded the 2-0 pitch up the middle, and second baseman Jose Lopez dove for the ball and threw to Bloomquist, who was late covering the bag at second. Bloomquist threw home trying to get Erstad, but that was late as well. The throw got away from Olivo, but nobody advanced.
»» ANGELS 2, MARINERS 0
Maicer Izturis flew out foul to Bloomquist near the leftfield line on the first pitch.
TOP 2ND
Grade: C-
Nothing much here. Willie Bloomquist flew out to Erstad in foul territory near the stands. Jose Lopez bounced out to third. Miguel Olivo worked a 1-2 count full, but flew out high to second.
BOTTOM 2ND
Grade: A
Meche bounced back. Jeff DaVanon whiffed on a 1-2 breaking ball down and in. Adam Kennedy whiffed on an 0-2 pitch. Figgins took a 1-2 fastball over the inside corner.
TOP 3RD
Grade: B
The clutch meter showed some life. Ichiro slapped the second pitch through the left side for a single. Winn got ahead 3-1 and would later bloop a high fly ball into leftcenter, where Anderson had the ball go off the end of his glove. DaVanon got the ball and threw past Kennedy at second, and the runners were safe. Ibañez had the hitters' counts and slapped the 3-1 pitch off the top of the wall in leftfield. It was good for a double, and Ichiro and Winn scored from second and first, respectively, to tie the score.
»» ANGELS 2, MARINERS 2
Sexson popped the first pitch foul to Erstad. Beltre whiffed on a low 1-2 pitch. Reed flew out to first.
BOTTOM 3RD
Grade: C+
Meche would falter again. Erstad drew a four-pitch leadoff walk. Guerrero hit a laser on the first pitch right to Beltre, who was able to snag it at the very hot corner. Anderson hit a hard single over Sexson, who debatably should have had it, and Erstad moved to third. Rivera grounded a ball to third, where Beltre made a diving stop and tried to roll the double play. The throw to first wasn't in time, and Erstad scored to retake the lead for the Angels.
»» ANGELS 3, MARINERS 2
Rivera took off for second on the 1-2 pitch to Molina, but was gunned down by Olivo.
TOP 4TH
Grade: A
All hell broke loose. Bloomquist hit the second pitch into the hap in leftcenter, good for a double. Lopez slapped the first pitch down the rightfield line, good for a double as well, and Bloomquist scored to tie the game up once again.
»» ANGELS 3, MARINERS 3
Olivo smoked a 1-1 pitch into the seats in leftfield, near the line. Surprise!
»» MARINERS 5, ANGELS 3
Kevin Gregg came in for Santana. Ichiro fell behind 0-2, and would ground the 1-2 pitch slowly into the hole at short, but Izturis couldn't throw over in time, and Erstad had to dive to stop the ball (single). Winn fouled off an 0-2 pitch, then Ichiro broke for second and got in under the tag. Winn whiffed on a 1-2 outside pitch. Ibañez bounced out to second. Sexson smoked his first pitch six rows back into the rightfield seats above the scoreboard. That's good.
»» MARINERS 7, ANGELS 3
Beltre grounded a 2-0 pitch up the middle, but Izturis plugged up the hole and threw him out.
Santana's line: 3 innings, 5 runs, 6 hits, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts, 78 pitches (46 strikes)
BOTTOM 4TH
Grade: A
Meche appeared to buckle down. Molina flew out high to left on an 0-2 pitch. Izturis lined a ball to Lopez, and he had to climb the ladder, jumping to spear the line drive. DaVanon hit a fly to centerfield, and Reed had to drift back and reach up to make the catch.
TOP 5TH
Grade: C-
Not much from the bats here. Reed grounded out to second. Bloomquist flew out to center. Lopez grounded a 2-0 pitch to the left side, and Figgins made a diving stop and threw from his knees in time to first.
BOTTOM 5TH
Grade: B+
Meche would face three batters, though not in the easiest manner. Kennedy rolled out to short. Figgins got ahead 3-0, but the count fell full before he singled into leftfield. Erstad grounded the second pitch to Lopez, who started the 4-6-3 double play.
TOP 6TH
Grade: C-
Gregg fired back with a 1-2-3 inning of his own. Olivo whiffed on a 1-2 pitch. Ichiro got ahead 2-0 and later rolled out to short. Winn bounced out to short to end the inning.
Gregg's line: 3 innings, 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts, 41 pitches (26 strikes)
BOTTOM 6TH
Grade: B
Meche fell victim to an inevitability. Guerrero got a 2-2 pitch high and over the plate, crushing it over the wall in straightaway centerfield.
»» MARINERS 7, ANGELS 4
Anderson bounced a ball to first, and Sexson ran it to the bag. Rivera flew out high to Reed in leftcenter. Molina tapped a 1-2 pitch to Meche, who knocked it down and threw to first.
Meche's line: 6 innings, 4 runs (2 earned), 6 hits, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts, 99 pitches (63 strikes)
TOP 7TH
Grade: C-
Scot Shields came in for Gregg. Ibañez ripped a 1-2 pitch barely foul down the rightfield line. He ended up failing to check his swing on a pitch very high and outside. Sexson whiffed on a 2-2 pitch down and in. Beltre had the hitters' counts, nearly hitting a double down the rightfield line, but grounding out to short on a full count.
BOTTOM 7TH
Grade: B-
Julio Mateo came in for Meche. Izturis grounded out to short. DaVanon fell behind 0-2, but fouled off a few pitches during the course of his at-bat, eventually flying out to left. Kennedy double off the wall in rightcenter on his first pitch.
Ron Villone came in for Mateo. Figgins got the hitters' counts and took a 3-1 dirtball for a walk. Erstad whiffed on a 1-2 pitch low and away, but the ball rolled up Olivo's arm and got away along the third-base line, and Erstad took first as the bases were loaded.
Jeff Nelson came in for Nelson. Guerrero got behind 1-2, fouled off a 2-2 pitch, then couldn't check his swing on a pitch quite low and away (first-base umpire appeal). It was quite the clutch strikeout for Nelson and the Mariners.
Mateo's line: 2/3 inning, 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts, 12 pitches (10 strikes)
Villone's line: 0 innings, 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 walk, 1 strikeout, 10 pitches (5 strikes)
TOP 8TH
Grade: C+
The Mariners couldn't quite muster up another run. Reed laid down a drag bunt which got past Shields, and Reed had first base as Kennedy couldn't come up with the ball. Bloomquist grounded a ball to second for a 4-6 fielder's choice as Reed had a good slide to break up any thought of a double play. Lopez chopped the ball over Erstad and into rightfield for a single, sending Bloomquist to third. Olivo whiffed on a 2-2 pitch low and away. Ichiro flew out to Rivera in rightcenter.
Shields' line: 2 innings, 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 walks, 3 strikeouts, 35 pitches (23 strikes)
BOTTOM 8TH
Grade: A-
Nelson held it down for another inning. Anderson flew out to Reed in leftcenter on the first pitch. Rivera bounced the 3-1 pitch to short. Molina flew out to Reed in leftcenter to end the inning.
Nelson's line: 1 1/3 innings, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 walks, 1 strikeout, 15 pitches (9 strikes)
TOP 9TH
Grade: C
Francisco Rodriguez came in for Shields. Winn fisted his 0-2 pitch for a soft lineout to second. Ibañez got behind 0-2, later taking a 1-2 fastball for strike three. Sexson fouled off a 2-2 pitch, somehow took the next pitch barely off the outside corner, then took a slider low and away for ball four. Beltre worked a 1-2 count full, fouling off three pitches along the way before whiffing at a full-count fastball.
Rodriguez' line: 1 inning, 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts, 23 pitches (15 strikes)
BOTTOM 9TH
Grade: B+
Eddie Guardado came in for Nelson. Izturis fell behind 0-2 and whiffed on a 1-2 pitch over the outside corner. DaVanon got ahead 2-0, but whiffed on a high 2-2 pitch. Kennedy doubled down the rightfield line into the corner, off the foul pole, and into the crowd for a double. Figgins worked a 1-2 count full, but flew out on a full count to Lopez in shallow rightfield, nearly colliding with Ichiro. Ballgame.
Guardado's line: 1 inning, 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts, 18 pitches (11 strikes)
---
Gameball: Jose Lopez.
It's bad when you cut Bret Boone and then end up getting no net offensive gain, since you're losing a bit on defense anyway. Luckily, Jose Lopez showed some signs of life at the plate today, going 2-for-4 with the game-tying double and RBI in the fourth. That accounted for the first run in the gargantuan five-run inning. Lopez also started a double play to end the fifth inning. Even still, and I've said this, I'm still not comfortable with Jose Lopez as a Major League hitter, but he hasn't been up for too long. I've got to give him time, and the fans should probably do the same. I'd like to ask and encourage everyone out there right now to please try to think of a better nickname than Lopey (already used), or worse yet, J-Lo. I'd seriously slap someone if I heard them call Lopez J-Lo. Don't try me.
Goat: Ron Villone.
Futility once again, and it ended up nearly exactly like it did in the second game of the series. Villone crapped up the situation, and Nelson (arguable gameball) had to face Vladimir Guerrero and bail everyone out. In Friday's game, Villone sandwiched an out with a single and a walk. In today's game, he went 2-0 and 3-1 on Figgins, and buried the 3-1 pitch. Then he buried a 1-2 pitch to Erstad as well, but he swung at it. Of course, the ball got away from Miguel Olivo, which may or may not be Villone's fault given what we know about Olivo's blocking ability. But hey, we've been hearing it for the past two years -- Ron Villone is effectively wild. Something like that. I sure haven't been believing it, and it's still not lost on me that the Mariners are overpaying him, which I argued over with some guy at Mariner FanFest months ago. He tried to play the versatility card. Vomit.
Yr W-L Pct GB Stk
2001 63-24 .724 -- W1
2003 55-32 .632 8 L1
2002 54-33 .621 9 L2
2000 51-36 .586 12 L1
2005 39-48 .448 24 W4
2004 33-54 .379 30 W1
How sweep it is! Man, I really don't like the Angels. Shock the monkey, all that stuff. This was quite the turn in fortune after the Mariners dropped the series in Kansas City, which was inexcusable. All in all, it was great seeing the Mariners crush the Angels in the first two games of the series, and then hold off the Angels in the final two games of the series, getting some very timely hitting. Yes, Bartolo Colon, Jarrod Washburn, John Lackey, and Ervin Santana, all falling victim to the sudden Mariner offensive juggernaut. It's a beautiful thing, really. The only bad thing about sweeping the four games in Orange County when they did is that now they have the All-Star break. Hopefully on Thursday the Mariners can pick up right where they left off. Hopefully the All-Star break doesn't stop them dead in their tracks. Of course, they say momentum is your next day's starting pitcher, but that's been a good and bad thing this year, mostly bad.
Two Mariners had a multi-hit game in this one. I covered Jose Lopez with the gameball entry. The other was Ichiro. I'm glad he's picking it up a bit. He went 2-for-5 and scored two of the Mariners' runs. Conversely, only one Mariner went hitless, and that was Adrian Beltre. However, he wasn't totally worthless thanks to some very key defensive plays.
That leaves six other hits scattered across the remaining six hitters in the lineup. Miguel Olivo and Richie Sexson made the most of their hits, hitting a two-run homer apiece, turning a tie game into a four-run Mariner lead in the fourth. As nice as it is to see Jose Lopez provide some offensive spark at second base, it's also nice to see Miguel Olivo get something -- anything -- to possibly give him a morsel of confidence when he's up there with a bat in his hands. It's just nice to know that he still has the ability to hit a mistake, and to park it. Also driving in two runs was Raul Ibañez in the third inning, whose double tied the game at 2-2.
Usually with Gil Meche there will be a few moments where I think he'll just fall off the rail and give way to the customary big inning. The first inning was definitely not the nicest inning to watch, though he only gave up two runs. Walking Darin Erstad on four pitches to lead off the inning right after the Mariners tied the game wasn't a good thing, and that run did come around to score. After the Mariners turned a one-run deficit into a four-run lead, Meche pretty much went to cruise control, allowing only the Vladimir Guerrero mortar shot in the sixth, which was an inevitability in the series.
On Friday, with the Mariners up 7-4, Jeff Nelson struck out Vladimir Guerrero with two men on. Today, Nelson struck out Guerrero once again with the same score, this time with the bases loaded. That was so clutch it was sick. Jeff Nelson's old, yes, but these two appearances prove that there is indeed something left in the tank. If nothing else, thank goodness Nelson was there to mop up the mess that Ron Villone made. Great googly-moogly.
Eddie Guardado got his 21st save in 22 opportunities, and he's been an absolute joy to watch in his time in Seattle, which may soon be at a close next month or next offseason. Ichiro stole his 20th base in the game. One's an All-Star, one's not. As I said a couple days ago, enjoy the break, Eddie.
With this, the Mariners roll into the break with a record of 39-48, six games better than the 2004 pace, and the first time they've been nine games under .500 since June 28th against Oakland, the first game of that road series, and the third of what ended up being seven straight losses. A .448 winning percentage, if maintained, would translate into a season-end mark of 73-89, ten games better than last year. Might that seem crappy? Sure. You don't want your team going 73-89. But guess what? Ten games of improvement over the year before is pretty good. I was hoping for a 14-win gain, but hey, if they just keep up their pace right now, it's an improvement of ten games. This team's not gonna be good overnight, kids.
Oriole pitcher. Mariner pitcher. Thursday.
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