Mariners Split Series With Astros

The Seattle Mariners ended up splitting series with Astros in Houston. In a way that is a good thing however they did win the opening game to the series on Tuesday 7-1.

I know some fans think it is OK and in some ways it is playing on the road losing the second game in the series but in a way I think it is a losing attitude as well. I believe that a team could win two games when taking the first game especially having opportunities to win. I know on the road splitting is good as well but if the Mariners don’t make the playoffs by a game or two we can look back at this and say they could have made it. In June it is hard to think about winning as many games as possible but that should be the attitude. I am sure the Mariner players feel that they should have won both games.

The Mariners opened the scoring in the 4^th inning with a home run by Nelson Cruz however Wade LeBlanc struggled in the bottom of the inning and gave up three runs including a two-run homer to Evan Gattis. It was his 9^th homer of the season. The park in Houston has a short fence in left field so being a power hitter you think that Gattis would have more home runs.

Wade LeBlanc started the game only last four innings. Up until that point he hadn’t given up a run but manager Servais must have seen something that told him that LeBlanc wasn’t going to do better so he put in Chase Bradford who has done excellent all season. Bradford pitched in an inning then James Pazos came in the 6^th inning gave up one hit. At that point the Mariners were behind 3-2 so had a chance to win. In the seventh inning the Mariners took the lead scoring two runs that included a solo home run by left fielder Denard Span that was his first with the Mariners. Leading the game 4-3 it looked like the Mariners had a good chance to win the game however Juan Nicasio had another bad game and gave up four runs without an out. Nicasio has had a lot of good games but does have some games where we can shake our heads and this was one of them. I am not sure why Servais didn’t take him out when the signs happen. So the Astros were leading 7-4. The Mariners got a home run by Kyle Seager but couldn’t get over to score a tie the game at least and lost 7-5.

This was one of these games we could have said yes maybe a victory was in hand. Before the game Servais said that Nick Vincent is ready to go out on a rehab assignment along with catcher Chris Herrmann; it will be nice to have both of them return soon. It would be nice to have Vincent back in the mix and  be nice to have him and Nicasio sharing the seventh inning with Alex Colome in the 8^th inning and Edwin Diaz closing in the 9^th.

Nicasio said coming out of spring training he could pitch in every game. I am thinking whether the Mariners are pitching him too much or not enough to be effective all the time? We hope that he can be a second half of the season pitcher that will help out the Mariners tremendously.

Now the Mariners will take on the Rays in Tampa Bay. It would be nice for them to take three out of four games especially that starting pitcher Chris Archer was put on the disabled list and won’t be available this series. The Mariners are scheduled to face Blake Snell again on Saturday against Felix Hernandez. We hope to have another good pitching duel between them. Go M’s.