Mariners Offense Works Pitching Doesn’t

The Seattle Mariners opened the last series on the current twelve game road trip losing to the Baltimore Orioles 7-6.

The offense played a good game most of the time how the pitching was disappointing at least from the starter Marco Gonzales. The bullpen was good most of the time though Emilio Pagan gave up the winning run although he stopped a rally when he came into the game.

The infield defense wasn’t that good in my mind. At least at shortstop and third base; Segura made some good plays along with Seager however I was disappointed the balls that got between them. I thought that they could have gotten those balls however the infield could have been faster than I think. Whatever the case a couple of plays on the infield could have made the difference. Of course we will never know for sure. When a team is fighting for the playoffs at this time of the year every play can make whether the team will win.

Danny Valencia and Ben Gamel were the hitting heroes. Valencia hit a solo homer in the second inning and Ben Gamel a three-run homer in the fourth inning. It put the Mariners ahead 4-3 however the Orioles scored two in the bottom of the fourth to make it 5-4. The game went back and forth. Pagan gave up the final run in the seventh inning.

Marco Gonzales went only three and one-third innings in the game giving up five earned runs on eight hits. He walked two and struck out two batters. Bergman came in to replace him. He pitched two innings and gave up a home run in the fifth inning to Andrew Jones. After getting some more runners on base in the sixth inning Pagan came in and replaced him. He finished the game for the Mariners. He took the loss because the run he gave up in the seventh inning. In general he has done a good job since he has been called up. He is really good getting batters out with runners on base. I wonder if the Mariners should have replaced him in the seventh inning.

Now the Mariners are even on the season and on the twelve game road trip right now at 5-5 with two games remaining. They open up a home stand on Friday against the A’s and then followed by the Astros and Angels to begin September.

Erasmo Ramirez takes the mound Tuesday night against Dylan Bundy who has a 12-8 record. The Orioles have been playing good ball again so it will continue being a tough series for the Mariners. We hope that the Mariners win the remaining two games. Go M’s.