Orioles Blank Mariners

What started out being a pretty good road trip where the Mariner beat the Tampa Bay Rays and the Atlanta Braves two out of three on each one to make the first two series 4-2.  It has been a disappointing in the last two series where the Mariners have lost two games out of three to the Yankees in New York and so far lost the first two games to the Orioles in Baltimore. The Mariners will have to win the final game Wednesday afternoon in Baltimore to make it 6-6 on the road trip.

The Orioles beating the Mariners on Tuesday night were all done on the long ball which should not be a surprise. The Mariners losing 4-0 the Orioles scored all four runs on solo home runs. Two of the solo home runs were off of starter Erasmo Ramirez who had another outstanding game outside of them. He pitched six innings giving up five hits including the home runs he walked two batters and striking out seven. In many cases it would have been a victory for Ramirez like on Monday night if he had pitched then. James Pazos gave up a home run in the seventh inning and Casey Lawrence did as well. Each gave up one other hit but still the home runs were solo. Both struck out a batter without walking anyone.

The Mariners had one hit in the game and that was a bunt off the bat of Kyle Seager who was going against the shift. Only two other batters reached the base on walks. It was Yonder Alonso and Mike Zunino.

Ariel Miranda goes for the Mariners on Wednesday. He has been struggling for the last two months or so. The plus side he is the only starting pitcher for the Mariners not to miss a start all season long.  He will be facing Ubaldo Jimenez who has a losing record along with a high earned run average so the Mariners could get back to scoring runs like they did against the Orioles on Monday hopefully with a win instead.

I am sure the players will be glad to come home after being on the road for two weeks and playing twelve games. They will be playing three series before going back on the road again. They will play the Oakland A’s over this weekend followed by the Houston Astros next week and then the Los Angeles Angels next weekend. It will be important that the Mariners do well on this home stand to have any chance to make the playoffs.

There is word that the Mariners have made a trade with the St. Louis for pitcher Mike Leake. He hasn’t had very good seasons this year or last however I am sure the Mariners hope that he will do a better job than the pitchers currently in the rotation besides Ramirez. The Mariners traded a minor league infielder for him. How much he helps the Mariners we will find out. I figure Dipoto believes that he will be better than those who are in the rotation now. When Felix and Paxton return the rotation looks it will be Paxton, Felix, Ramirez, Miranda and Leake. Go M’s.