The Lineup Difference

Jean Segura was back in the lineup on Monday night after being out of action for four games. He didn’t get any hits though he walked a couple times and didn’t score any runs however he did make a couple outstanding plays in the field that helped lift up the team.

A player that is in the status of Segura comes back it really helps out the team. Dee Gordon mentioned that after the game.

Felix Hernandez had another good outing going six innings and giving up three runs on four hits. The Mariners did take an early lead scoring two runs in the second inning. Felix did struggle a bit in the early innings walking three batters fortunately he bared down not to give up any runs. The Orioles first run came in the fifth inning when second baseman Jonathan Schoop hit a solo home run. The Orioles tied the score 3-3 getting two runs off of Felix however the Mariners made good when Guillermo Heredia walked to load the bases followed by a single by Dee Gordon to drive in the final two runs in the seventh inning.

The Mariners’ bullpen took over in the seventh inning with James Pazos then Alex Colome and finished up with Edwin Diaz getting his twenty-eighth save. No hits were compiled by those three; Colome and Diaz both struck out two batters.

It will help out if Felix can continue to pitch six innings in the same fashion giving up three runs or less. Tuesday the Mariners will have James Paxton on the mound. We hope that he can get back to his ace pitching after having a couple poor performances. Again if he can go at least six inning keeping the game close than the Mariners have another great chance in winning.

The Angels lost on Monday night so the Mariners are now three and half games behind. The Angels lost as well so they now tied with the Oakland A’s both being ten and half games behind the Astros or seven games behind the Mariners. The schedule the Mariners will be playing now after the tough series against the Yankees and Red Sox it will be hard for those others to catch up unless the Mariners totally fall on their faces.

Although the Mariners could use another starter in the rotation the trouble with the bullpen in the last two series the Mariners might go after another reliever as well. Nick Vincent is back off the disabled list along with Juan Nicasio. Both of them struggling getting another reliever wouldn’t be bad. The Mariners may look at picking up a lefty to team with Pazos. We know whatever the case Dipoto can do something to improve the Mariners.  Go M’s.