Two Wins In a Row

It has been over a month since the Seattle Mariners have won two games in a row. It was in a two-game series when the Mariners beat the A’s in Oakland. Thursday night the Mariners beat the Baltimore Orioles in the first game of the series after beating the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday.

The opening game of the series the win happened in somewhat the same fashion the last game against the Royals. The offense came alive along with good pitching. The difference though the Mariners had Tayler Scott start the game as the opener then Wade LeBlanc took over with two outs in the bottom of the first inning with the bases loaded. Unfortunately, he gave up a hit two score two runs. LeBlanc settled down to go six and one-third innings without giving up any runs on four hits.

We could blame Scott for the two runs in the first inning but with a break or two, the Orioles may have not scored a run at all. Scott didn’t give up a hit but did walk three batters. He was having trouble with his slider getting over the plate. I would not give up on Scott in being the opener though. All he needs to do is throw strikes.

Omar Narvaez hit a home run in the bottom of the second making the lead 2-1 by the Orioles. The Mariners scored three runs in the sixth inning including a solo home run by Domingo Santana his third in two games. They added another run in the seventh inning.

Austin Adams came in for LeBlanc in the eighth inning where he struck out the side. Roenis Elias took care of the three batters he faced in the ninth inning.

This game had another similarity where every hitter who started had a least one hit in the game except Dee Gordon. So he hasn’t had a hit in his last two games. I wonder if he will be in the lineup tonight or he will be rested. We will see, won’t we? Final score Seattle 5 Baltimore 2.

In other news, it looks like Mitch Haniger will likely be out until after the all-star break. He is working out lightly but hasn’t taken batting practice as of yet. He will probably go on a rehab assignment as well. Jake Fraley who came in the trade along with Mallex Smith from Tampa Bay was promoted from double-A to triple-A Tacoma. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Mariners need an outfielder before Haniger or Braden Bishop’s he will be the one called upon. We will see him in September if not before. He looks like he could stick next year for the Mariners or call up during the season depending on how much time the Mariners feel he should have in triple-A.

In other local sports in the NBA draft Washington Huskie’s Matisse Thybulle was picked in the first round as the 20^th overall by the Boston Celtics; however, they traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers. Jaylen Nowell was taken in the second round by Minnesota.

The Gonzaga Bulldogs had two players taken in the first round. Power forward Rui Hachimura out of Japan was picked number nine by the Washington Wizards while Brandon Clarke was taken right after Thybulle by Oklahoma. Bol Bol the son of former NBA center Manute Bol who was out most of the season at Oregon as a freshman was drafted right after Nowell going to Miami. Another local product Kevin Porter Jr who played for USC was taken as the last pick in the first round by the Milwaukee Bucks.  The Pac-12 had six players drafted in total with Thybulle being the first one. Best wishes for Thybulle and Nowell along with the other four Pac-12 players along with the Gonzaga guys.