Wednesday, May 24, 2006
GAME 47: ORIOLES 14, MARINERS 4
[initial partial post]
In 25 words or less: Glassman Dale Chihuly was in the ballpark, but the Mariners didn't blow glass. They just blew. The big inning struck twice.
This one featured former Mariner swingman pitcher John Halama going up against formerly good Joel Piñeiro. Halama had the spot start, filling in for Hayden Penn, who was going to make his Major League debut before needing an appendectomy.
TOP 1ST
Brandon Fahey was ahead 3-0 and took the 3-1 pitch way up and away for a leadoff walk. Melvin Mora roped the second pitch right at Beltre at third. Miguel Tejada was ahead 2-0 before watching Fahey nearly get picked off of first. Tejada responded on the 2-2 pitch by hitting a bullet of a double into left and to the wall, pushing Fahey to third. Javy Lopez fell behind 0-2 before grounding a 1-2 pitch to Beltre at third, who threw home to easily get Fahey into a rundown between third and home. Ramon Hernandez clubbed a homer into the visitors' bullpen in left.
»» ORIOLES 3, MARINERS 0
Corey Patterson slapped a ball down the rightfield line for a double that may have been a triple had he not tripped as he was going through the bag at first. Kevin Millar worked a 1-2 count for a walk, though it took eight pitches. Pitching coach Rafael Chaves came to the mound for a visit. Nick Markakis drilled a pitch that didn't get outside enough for a single up the middle to score Patterson and move Millar to second.
»» ORIOLES 4, MARINERS 0
Luis Matos popped the first pitch to Ibañez near the leftfield line. Piñeiro threw 35 pitches.
BOTTOM 1ST
Ichiro served a 1-2 pitch into leftfield, so make it a 17-game hitting streak. Jose Lopez rolled the second pitch along the first-base line that looked to go foul before rolling fair, and Halama threw in time to first as Ichiro moved to second. Raul Ibañez bounced the second pitch to second, moving Ichiro to third. Richie Sexson popped just short of the track in center. Halama threw 12 pitches.
TOP 2ND
Fahey bounced the second pitch up the middle for a single. Mora lined the first pitch to a backpedaling Bloomquist in front of the track in center. Tejada flew out to left. Javy Lopez failed to check his swing on a full count, though he was called out on the appeal to first. Piñeiro had 14 pitches and had 49 through two.
BOTTOM 2ND
Carl Everett was ahead 3-1 before whiffing on a full count. Adrian Beltre popped the first pitch to right. Kenji Johjima tapped back to the mound. Halama threw 11 pitches and had 23 through two.
TOP 3RD
Hernandez singled the first pitch into rightfield. Patterson dropped a fly ball inside the leftfield line for a double, moving Hernandez to third. Millar grounded a 2-2 pitch hard to third. Markakis was intentionally walked. Matos lined the second pitch softly to Jose Lopez on the outfield grass, who threw to a quickly covering Betancourt at short for the 4-6 double play. Piñeiro threw 14 pitches and had 63 through three.
BOTTOM 3RD
Willie Bloomquist rolled the second pitch to first on a PFP play, but he apparently beat the throw back to Halama (replays showed it was just about a tie) as Baltimore manager Sam Perlozzo came out immediately to argue. Yuniesky Betancourt lined a single into shallow leftcenter on a 1-2 pitch, moving Bloomquist to second. Ichiro spanked a pitch into left for a single to load the bases. Jose Lopez walked on four pitches, forcing Bloomquist across and keeping the bases loaded.
»» ORIOLES 4, MARINERS 1
Ibañez chopped the first pitch high to first, scoring Betancourt and moving Ichiro to third and Jose Lopez to second.
»» ORIOLES 4, MARINERS 2
Sexson foul-tipped a 2-2 change into the catcher's glove. Everett chopped out to third. Halama threw 23 pitches and had 46 through three.
TOP 4TH
Fahey grounded the second pitch to first. Mora rolled a ball that he thought was foul off or behind the plate, but it went fair and Sexson got it and stepped on first. Tejada took the second pitch off the "1" in the number 10 on his back. Javy Lopez was ahead 3-0 before whiffing on a low full-count breaking ball. Piñeiro threw 15 pitches and had 78 through four.
BOTTOM 4TH
Beltre grounded the second pitch to short. Johjima rolled the first pitch to second. Bloomquist was ahead 2-0 before he grounded out to second on a nice sliding stop by Fahey. Halama threw eight pitches and had 54 through four.
TOP 5TH
Hernandez popped a full-count pitch to Johjima behind the plate. Patterson blasted the first pitch onto the far end of the vertical Mariner banner over the equipment tunnel in rightcenter.
»» ORIOLES 5, MARINERS 2
Millar poked a single through the left side. Markakis punched the second pitch through the left side for a single to move Millar to second. Matos lined out to left on a 2-2 pitch. Fahey bounced to second. Piñeiro threw 20 pitches and has 98 through five.
Piñeiro's line: 5 innings, 5 runs, 10 hits, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts, 67 pitches (40 strikes)
BOTTOM 5TH
Betancourt had the hitters' counts before walking on a full-count pitch in the dirt. Ichiro bounced into a 4-6 fielder's choice to force out Betancourt at second. Jose Lopez popped the second pitch to center as Ichiro held. Ibañez lined out to Tejada, who caught it just above his shoestrings. Halama threw 13 pitches and had 67 through five.
Halama's line: 5 innings, 2 runs, 4 hits, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts, 67 pitches (40 strikes)
TOP 6TH
Julio Mateo came in for Piñeiro. Mora was behind 0-2 before whiffing on a 2-2 breaking ball. Tejada fell behind 0-2 and failed to check his swing on a 1-2 pitch down and away, though he was called out by the first-base appeal as well, and wasn't happy about it. Javy Lopez whiffed on a highish 0-2 pitch as Mateo struck out the side. Mateo threw 13 pitches.
BOTTOM 6TH
Adam Loewen, making his Major League debut after being called up from AA Bowie, came in for Halama. Sexson took a full-count pitch down over the inside corner, though Sexson didn't agree with it. Everett walked on four pitches. Beltre was nailed with the first pitch, taking it high off the left shoulder to send Everett to second. Johjima rolled a pitch up the middle for a single, scoring Everett and moving Beltre to second.
»» ORIOLES 5, MARINERS 3
Todd Williams came in for Loewen. Bloomquist took the second pitch off the left tricep above the elbow, loading the bases. Betancourt took an 0-2 fastball that tailed back over the outer half. Ichiro fell behind 0-2 before whiffing on a 1-2 pitch at the knees. Williams threw nine pitches.
Loewen's line: 1/3 inning, 1 run, 1 hit, 1 walk, 1 strikeout, 13 pitches (5 strikes)
TOP 7TH
Hernandez fell behind 0-2 before grounding a 1-2 pitch to Sexson behind the bag at first. Patterson walked on four pitches. Millar popped to Bloomquist just short of the track in center as Patterson was off with the pitch and had to scurry back to first.
George Sherrill came in for Mateo. Markakis fell behind 0-2 and Patterson stole second two pitches later, beating the throw from Johjima. Markakis ended up lining out to left on a 1-2 pitch. Sherrill threw seven pitches.
Mateo's line: 1 2/3 innings, 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts, 24 pitches (16 strikes)
BOTTOM 7TH
Jose Lopez rolled a 2-2 pitch softly to short as Tejada threw low just in time to a stretch Millar at first. Ibañez had the hitters' counts before lining out to center on a 3-1 pitch. Sexson was ahead 3-0 before taking a full-count pitch over the outside corner, though it might have been low and/or outside. Williams threw 16 pitches and had 25 total.
Williams' line: 1 2/3 innings, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 walks, 3 strikeouts, 25 pitches (15 strikes)
TOP 8TH
Matos walked on four pitches. Fahey air-bunted the second pitch just outside the right-handed batter's box to Johjima.
Rafael Soriano came in for Sherrill. Mora fell behind 0-2 and drilled the 1-2 pitch through the left side for a single, moving Matos to second. Tejada took a 2-1 pitch over the inside corner and did not agree with Jerry Layne behind the plate again. Tejada ended up popping to left on a full count with the runners going. Javy Lopez took a 2-2 slider over the outside corner. Soriano threw
Sherrill's line: 2/3 inning, 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts, 13 pitches (8 strikes)
Soriano's line: 2/3 inning, 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 walks, 1 strikeout, 17 pitches (11 strikes)
BOTTOM 8TH
LaTroy Hawkins came in for Williams. Everett punched a 1-2 pitch through the right side for a single. Manager Sam Perlozzo and a trainer came out to see Hawkins after an inadvertent stumble off the mound. Beltre drove the second pitch to the track in rightcenter that Patterson went over to get, but it landed in the palm of his glove and came out as Everett scored adn Beltre was credited with the triple.
»» ORIOLES 5, MARINERS 4
Johjima popped the second pitch to Millar beside the mound. Roberto Petagine, hitting for Bloomquist, worked a 1-2 count full before popping to Mora behind the bag at third. Jeremy Reed was brought in to hit for Betancourt.
Chris Ray came in for Hawkins. Reed fell behind 0-2 and was blown down by a 1-2 fastball outside.
Hawkins' line: 2/3 inning, 1 run, 2 hits, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts, 14 pitches (10 strikes)
TOP 9TH
JJ Putz came in for Soriano. Reed stayed in to play center, and Mike Morse came in to play short. Hernandez was ahead 3-1 before chopping high to Beltre at third, who barehanded it out of the air and gunned low to first as Sexson made the stretch and the out was recorded (crazy play). Patterson took an 0-2 pitch high on the right thigh. Millar watched as Patterson drew three pickoff throws before nabbing second base on the first pitch. Millar was ahead 2-0 and dumped a broken-bat single into shallow right to score Patterson, who drew an off-line throw from Ichiro, enabling Millar to take second.
»» ORIOLES 6, MARINERS 4
Markakis ripped the second pitch off the base of the wall in centerfield, scoring Millar. Chaves visited the mound.
»» ORIOLES 7, MARINERS 4
Matos dunked the second pitch over Morse's reach (yes, Betancourt probably has that by position in place of height) for a single, moving Markakis to third.
Jake Woods came in for Putz. Fahey knocked a single up the middle to score Markakis and move Matos to second.
»» ORIOLES 8, MARINERS 4
Mora watched a wild 1-1 pitch that got away from Johjima to move the runners to second and third, which was moote when Mora walked on a 3-1 pitch to load the bases. Tejada bounced to third and Beltre threw home, but Johjima just plum didn't catch it (error). Matos scored and the bases remained loaded.
»» ORIOLES 9, MARINERS 4
Javy Lopez singled the second pitch into center, scoring Fahey and keeping the bases loaded.
»» ORIOLES 10, MARINERS 4
Hernandez was ahead 2-0 cranked the 2-2 pitch into the visitor's bullpen. Get slammed!
»» ORIOLES 14, MARINERS 4
Patterson worked a 1-2 count for a walk. Chaves visited the mound. Millar popped the first pitch to right. Markakis took a 2-2 breaking ball over the outside corner to mercifully end the inning.
Putz' line: 1/3 inning, 4 runs (3 earned), 3 hits, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts, 18 pitches (11 strikes)
Woods' line: 2/3 inning, 5 runs, 3 hits, 2 walks, 1 strikeout, 31 pitches (15 strikes)
BOTTOM 9TH
Ichiro whiffed on some 0-2 heat. Jose Lopez fell behind 0-2 before flying out to center on the 1-2 pitch. Ibañez rolled an 0-2 pitch to third.
Ray's line: 1 1/3 innings, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts, 14 pitches (12 strikes)
---
Gameball: Julio Mateo.
Well, it's two appearances for Mateo since coming off the disabled list, and so far, so good. He came in for some long relief after Joel Piñeiro demonstrated once again that he's far from his Player of the Week form. Mateo only threw three pitches in the first game of the series to get one out, but in this game he bridged the gap from Piñeiro to the late-shift guys in the bullpen. Dave Valle came on in the fifth/sixth as well as the end of the game saying even though Piñeiro didn't have his best stuff, he gave the team a chance to win, but I think that's bunk. Mateo came in to start the sixth and faced the meat of the order right away. His worst move of the game was walking Corey Patterson on four pitches, but Patterson just wasn't getting out on this night. Anyway, with Mateo possibly getting back in the swing of things (more outings will determine whether this is the case) and the Putz/Guardado roles basically swapping for themselves, there's not going to be many innings left over for Sean Green. Will he continue to get better by not getting many innings on the Major League level, or is it time to get some random waiver-wire guy to be the rarely-used righty in the bullpen? If you ask me, Green should be sent down so the bench can be deepened, but this is Hargrove we're talking about here.
Goat: Joel Piñeiro.
Was this old Piñeiro? Four runs in the first inning? Nine batters sent to the plate in the first? We've seen this song and dance from Piñeiro before. He can't start doing this again. The Mariners already have one enigmatic starting pitcher to deal with every five days (Gil Meche), and they really don't need another one. What you may not know is that the Mariners do indeed have five semi-consistent starters in the rotation. Moyer and Washburn are fairly consistent, Hernandez has been consistently bad, and Piñeiro and Meche are inconsistent. Bottom line is that Piñeiro can't be spotting the other team a four-run lead before the Mariners even get to the plate. That's not just a scoreboard thing or a psychological thing, it's also a good way to immediately sap the energy out of 19435 fans. As such, the four-game winning streak came to a crashing end. By the way, the Mariners' longest win streak in 2005 was four games, in 2004 it was five games, and way back in 2003 it was nine games. Really, I don't think a team can have a legitimate tear unless the winning streak is over a half dozen.
Yr W-L Pct GB Stk
2001 35-12 .745 -- W3
2002 31-16 .660 4 W2
2003 31-16 .660 4 W2
2000 25-22 .532 10 L1
2006 21-26 .447 14 L1
2005 18-29 .383 17 L4
2004 17-30 .362 18 L2
The Mariners' only saving grace of this game was the fact that Texas and Oakland both lost, so the Mariners lost zero ground in the division race or water-tread or whatever you want to call it.
Benson. Washburn. Tonight.
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