The Seattle Mariners ended their two game losing streak
beating the Kansas City Royals 5-2. It was an important win to keep the
Mariners in the race for the wild card since the Royals are one of the teams
ahead of the Mariners to get into the playoffs.
The chances were pretty good because James Paxton was on the
mound for the Mariners and he was going for his seventh win in a row. The
Mariners took the lead early scoring a run in the first inning when Robinson
Cano hit his 500th double of his career to drive in Jean Segura. It
was quite the occasion that is for sure. They removed the bat, the ball and
second base. Some or all of them will go to the hall of fame.
The game stayed that way until the fifth inning when the
Kansas City scored a run in the fifth inning and then another to a 2-1 lead in
the sixth inning. Going into the seventh inning it felt like the game may stay
that way however one of my favorite players Guillermo Heredia hit a double and
then drove in by Jarrod Dyson to tie the score. Dyson actually scored to take
the lead 3-2. After a change of pitchers when former Mariner Brandon Maurer
came into the game Jean Segura hit a triple and then he scored to make it 4-2.
The Mariners scored another run in the seventh inning for the final score of 5-2.
James Paxton went six innings giving up the two runs along
with only one walk and striking out seven. He is now tied with Chris Sale of
the Boston Red Sox with best era in the AL of 2.70 and now Paxton has a record
of 12-3. He should be in the running for the Cy Young award if he keeps going. He
should be able to get five more starts in the month of August. Even if he isn’t
able to win all the games in August like he did in July he would still have an
outstanding record going into September. Say he went 4-1 that would give him a
record of 16-4 and look forward to winning twenty games if he can stay healthy.
King Felix goes on the mound Saturday though there is a
forecast of a lot of rain. If the Mariners and Royals can’t play they will have
a double header on Sunday. Helps is that the Mariners have Monday off before
starting a series in Oakland on Tuesday.
Guillermo Heredia who started the rally in the seventh inning
started as designated hitter in the place of Nelson Cruz who just was taken out
of the lineup right before the game because of his neck. The Mariners are
hoping that he will be back in either Saturday or Sunday. Heredia will be in the lineup anyway because
Danny Duffy a left hander is expected to start for the Royals. Duffy has
pitched solid this season but we hope that Felix can be more like his old self.
It is important that he pitches well for the Mariners to win and stay close in
the wild card chase. Go M’s.
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