Sunday, June 6, 2021

Mariners Look To Split Series

Yusei Kikuchi pitched an outstanding
game for four innings, however, if you
just saw the score you would have
wondered what happened.

Kikuchi gave up a home run to Ohtani
in the first inning but looked like to
be a pitching duel as Angel starter
Alex Cobb was throwing a no-hitter
threw three innings. In the fourth
inning the Mariners were able to
load the bases then Jake Fraley hit
a grand slam home run plus another
run made it 5-1.

At that point the way Kikuchi was
pitching it looked like the Mariners
were going to win but it wasn't meant
to be. In the bottom of the fourth Max
Stassi Angel's catcher hit a solo home
run to make it 5-2.

The game still looked good in hand.
You never know in baseball though.
In the fifth inning the Angels scored
two runs on a throwing error by catcher
Jose Godoy. This made the score 5-4.
What happened next turned the game
into what turned out to be a rout. 
Kikuchi was hit in the leg by a line
drive and had to leave the game. JT
Chargois came in for Kikuchi finishing
the inning without giving up a run.

In the sixth inning Drew Steckenrider
came in giving up a two-run homer.
Steckenrider just came off the injured
list after having covid. We hope that
he can get back to being the pitcher 
he was before covid.

Newly acquired Yacksel Rios pitched
the seventh inning giving up a run on
a double. The big inning for the Angels
was the eighth inning when they scored
five runs off of Will Vest. Since coming
off the injured list for covid Vest hasn't
been the pitcher he was before. In four
outings he has given up now seven runs.

So the fine score ended up 12-5 with the
Angels on top. Alex Cobb ended up going
seven innings. He didn't give up another
run after the terrible fourth inning. The
Angel bullpen only had one hit given up.

The Mariners had only four hits on the 
night including Fraley's grand slam.
Taylor Trammell drove in a run before
Fraley's home making the five runs scored.
The other two hits were by no other than
JP Crawford and Mitch Haniger. 

Logan Gilbert takes the mound on Sunday
to see if the Mariners can end the series
making it 2-2. The Mariners have a good
chance if Gilbert can pitch like he did in
his last outing. Gilbert is getting better in
each game he pitches. It will be important
he throws his off speed pitches in between
his fastball. 

The Mariners will have Monday off before
playing the Tigers in Detroit for two games.
They finish the road trip taking on Cleveland
Thursday through Sunday. We hope that 
Kikuchi will be able to pitch in Cleveland.
We should know more on Sunday. He was
able to walk off the mound good, however,
what side effects will determine whether he
will have to  miss a turn or not. A MRI and
x-ray is expected on Sunday.

We just hope no more injuries happen to the
Mariners while on this road trip at least. Justin
Dunn is expected to come off the injured list
to pitch in Cleveland. The Mariners haven't
announced yet who will start in Detroit on 
Tuesday. The likelihood it will be Marco
Gonzales who started last Tuesday in his
first outing after coming off the injured list.
Chris Flexen will probably start in the second
game in Detroit. Go M's.

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