Mariners Take Another Series

The Mariners continue on their roll winning another series and not an easy thing to do when you are in a four game series on the road even though you are playing a team that is not that good.

The amazing thing is that all three wins against the Rays were by one run each time. The lone loss was Saturday when Felix Hernandez was not able to go any more than three innings giving up six runs five that were earned on seven hits. The Mariners lost that game 7-3 which means the Rays outscored the Mariners by one run in the series though the Mariners won three games. I would call that irony.

The Mariners now have won twenty-one one run games and lost nine. The Mariners now have forty-one wins so twenty that were won by more than one run. It will be interesting to see if this trend continues.

James Paxton was able to go seven innings giving up five hits and three runs while walking no batters and striking out ten. We would have to say if this is a regular occurrence for Paxton than the Mariners will win a lot of games. James Pazos who has had an outstanding season so far did give up a one run in a third of the inning before being lifted for Alex Colome who gave up a hit and a walk in two-thirds of an inning. Edwin Diaz got the save his twenty-third of the season though he gave up two hits. Actually the runner who was on first base was thrown out by Mitch Haniger trying to score the tying run to end the game so the final score was 5-4. The Mariners scored all the runs on three homers. Nelson Cruz had a solo shot while Kyle Seager and Mike Zunino had two-run homers each.

Now the Mariners come home this week to face the Angels for three games followed by four against the Boston Red Sox. The Mariners will have Wade LeBlanc, Mike Leake and Marco Gonzales to face the Angels. This should be a good chance that the Mariners take the series against them. The Red Sox they will have likely Felix Hernandez, James Paxton, Wade LeBlanc and Mike Leake. It will be interesting to see how Felix will do in that series. He has pitched better at home and I am sure the Mariners coaching staff are working on getting his fastball to work.

The Angels will be without Ohtani who has been reported going to need Tommy John surgery which would mean he would probably be out for the season. Also shortstop Simmons is on the disabled list as well. The key to the series still has to do with Mike Trout and how the Mariners decide to pitch to him. Go M’s.