Another Close Loss

On Thursday night the Mariners were looking to take three out of four against the Boston Red Sox however they had to settle for a split losing 3-2 in eleven innings. It was another tough lost for Cody Martin who was recently called up from Tacoma. This was the second loss for him in extra innings where the Mariners can’t score runs although they did get a runner on base again where they could have at least got the score even.

Previously Cody Martin the Mariners were facing the Chicago Cubs in the last game of that series on Sunday Night Baseball where the Cubs scored on a bunt by pitcher Jon Lester who was pinch hitting in that case. This time a ball hit to shortstop Shawn O’Malley that went off his glove that allowed the batter to reach base and later scored.

The Mariners were down earlier and came back later to tie the score 2-2. Ariel Maranda who the Mariners got in the trade from the Baltimore Orioles for Wade Miley pitched a solid six innings giving up two runs before they went to the bullpen. He showed good stuff in his first outing for the Mariners. Hard to know right now whether the Mariners plan to continue him starting or have him in the bullpen long term. TaiJuan Walker is expected to come off the disabled list on this coming Saturday so Maranda will either go to the bullpen or sent back down to Tacoma. The chances are pretty good that he will go to the bullpen since Vidal Nuno is the only lefty in the bullpen. Hard to know right now when Charlie Furbush will be reactivated to the roster.

On Thursday the Mariners sent pitcher Donn Roach back down to Tacoma and at the same time Steve Cishek was put on the 15 day disabled list. Hard to know whether the injury to his shoulder was why he was pitching poorly. According to the Mariners he won’t need surgery and that the time on the disabled should be enough. Nick Vincent maybe back soon to since he is on a rehab assignment with the Everett Aquasox. Also on rehab assignment with the Aquasox is shortstop Ketel Marte. Both of them maybe reactivated when the Mariners go on the next road trip to Oakland and Anaheim. I am sure the return of other players will be coming up in the next few days too. Jerry Dipoto still believes the Mariners will make a trade or more during August. In his mind it doesn’t matter whether the Mariners are in the race still or not. I believe they will be in the hunt still with the schedule ahead. The Mariners will be playing an easier schedule than they did in July. Whatever trades the Mariners make will be toward next season as well as how to strengthen the roster for the rest of this season.

The Mariners have a three game series now against the Angels. They play seven games against the Angels in the next two weeks so how the fair against them will decide where the Mariners are still in the race. Since the Angels are no longer in the race it would be nice if the Mariners could win five out of the seven games. So that would be sweeping the three in Seattle and splitting the series in Anaheim or taking two out of three here and three out of four there. Whatever the case the Mariners are capable of doing so on the other hand they could win only three out of seven. So it will be interesting to see what happens over the weekend especially with having Junior Griffey in the house and getting his number retired Saturday. Go M’s.