Mariners Take Two

Although the Mariners game against the Oakland A’s on Wednesday was hard to swallow losing despite the great pitching of James Paxton striking out sixteen batters they returned to beat the A’s Thursday night 4-1. In fact the win was against the A’s ace Sean Manaea who had an era of 1.03 going into the game and still leaves with an era of 1.63. Also he was the American League pitcher of the month. It has become common place this season that the Mariners have been beating teams best pitchers other than the Houston Astros who they seem to still have trouble beating.

The series at Safeco Field against the Astros is the only one they have lost so far this year while tying two splitting with the Giants and the Twins on the road. All the others they have won including beating the Indians three out of four games in Clevland. Now we have to see how the Mariners will do against the Angels over the weekend.

 This game it was Cano and Cruz who were the ones that drove in two runs each for the four runs the Mariners scored however Dee Gordon was the catalyst once again having three hits in the game including a double and stealing a base. Both of Cano’s rbi’s were after Gordon was able to get to the third base. In the first inning  after Gordon’s single he stole second and then Jean Segura  laid down a bunt to move him to third. The A’s moved the infield in however Cano hit the ball to left field to drive in Gordon. Standing at first base Cano had a really nice smile on his face saying I got you. The second hit that drove Gordon in from third base as well was a hit to left field as well. Cruz two runs batted in was a homer with Cano on base after his hit to bring Gordon in the third inning.

Wade LeBlanc pitched a solid four innings in his first start of the season. He shutout the A’s on three hits with one walk and three strike outs. I am sure he will be extended to five innings in his next start depending on the pitch count. Casen Bradford came in the fifth inning and gave up a solo home run to right fielder Stephen Piscotty on the very first pitcher however he settled down after that. It was the only hit that Bradford gave up in his two and a thirds inning. Lefty James Pazos came in for Bradford for the remaining of the seventh inning giving up no hits.

The Mariners decided to go back to  Juan Nicasio who gave up the tying two run home run on Wednesday night and Edwin Diaz who gave up the winning home run. This time they did what they have been doing most of the season shutting down the A’s each giving up one hit only. Nicasio struck out three batters while Diaz only did one however it was good to have them back in the next day.

This weekend games the Mariners now face the Angels who are now tied for first place with the Astros and only a half-game ahead of the Mariners. The Angels have one more win than the Mariners with nineteen wins and have the same amount of losses in twelve. So it will be important that the Mariners can take two out of three against the Angels as well.

The Mariners have Mike Leake going for them on Friday night while Garrett Richards goes for the Angels. Richards has a three and one record with an era of 4.88. In his last outing on Saturday August 28 he gave up nine runs with five being earned against the New York Yankees. It would be nice if the Mariners could do something to the Angels like the Yankees did. On Saturday Marcos Gonzales will go for the Mariners while Tyler Skaggs for the Angels and then on Sunday Felix Hernandez will go while the Angles haven’t announced their pitcher as of yet.

Looking at the Angels roster at the end of spring training I am surprised that they are in first place. Mike Trout has started out well once again with eleven home runs and driven in twenty-one runs. Throughout their lineup other players are driving in runs at a good clip as well. Skaggs is the only one besides Richards has won three games. I still believe the Mariners have a better roster than the Angels so I hope they take advantage of that this weekend. Go M’s.