Mike Zunino and the Offense

Can’t say more about the Mariners than Mike Zunino and the rest of the offense; he has led the AL in runs batted in for the month around 24. He has adjusted well since his return from Tacoma. We do hope that he can continue doing what he has been or at least above his previous average anyway. He will have his ups and downs however I like the fact that when he strikes out he is still able to come back to be effective in the game. On the offensive side of the ball it is power that helps out the Mariners. He is able to drive the ball the other way to center or right field. He is able to get some good doubles besides the home runs. We have to see if this continues for him the rest of the season.

Ben Gamel continues to having a hot bat as well hitting over .400 for the month of June. It will be interesting to see how manager Scott Servais will work the lineup with the return of Jean Segura. He is expected to be back in the lineup Thursday after making a final rehab assignment on Wednesday. He is expected to go nine innings in the Wednesday game. There is a good possibility that Gamel will lead off when right handers are on the mound and then Segura against lefties. Of course that may not happen at all. The question is if that happens where both of them will be in the lineup when not leading off. Segura may be the leadoff batter full time as well which will slide Gamel down in the lower of the batting of the order except when Mitch Haniger has a day off.

Having the flexibility of Dyson and Heredia playing center field is nice to with Heredia playing left field on occasion as well.  I would play Heredia in the outfield at least one other time during the week against righties depending on how often they are facing lefties in a given week. I would say the same for Dyson if the Mariners are facing several lefties in a particular week. Whatever the case this is the good problem to have.

Wednesday night James Paxton takes the mound for the Mariners against the Tigers. We all hope that he rebounds from his last two poor outings. We hope that it hasn’t all gone to his head. His success will have to come at the beginning of the game. Detroit has Justin Verlander going for them in the game so it will be a tough match up for sure. How the Mariners start out in the first inning will give us a good idea how they will do in the game. This is both on the offense and pitching.

The Mariners had a nice walk-off win with Kyle Seager hitting a double down right field in the 10^th inning with Tyler Smith pinch running for Nelson Cruz. The placement of the ball by Seager made it an easy run home for Smith. Also it was quite timely since it was Seager’s only hit of the game.

Ariel Miranda had a nice comeback after his last outing giving up two runs on four hits in seven innings. His two runs were solo homers by Ian Kinsler leading off the game and Justin Upton leading off the second inning. The Mariners had a 4-2 lead in the eighth inning when the Tigers tied the game. Dan Altavilla started out the inning well but then gave up the two runs that included a solo home run. Edwin Diaz had a nice outing in the ninth and then Steve Cishek came in and took care of the Tigers before Seager’s double. This gave Cishek a record of 1-1 on the season. Miranda’s outing allowed only three relievers to pitch in the game over the ten innings. All the other relievers should be ready to go on Wednesday. Go M’s.