James Paxton who is called the Mariners Ace at this point will come off the disabled list to pitch against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday the one that is acting like the Ace is Marco Gonzales. Not only did he win his eleventh game of the season against the White Sox to win the series for the Mariners he had a no-hitter going into the seventh inning. He gave up a two-run homer that ended his shutout after giving up the first hit of the game. Up to that point it was clear sailing since the Mariners were leading 5-0. James Pazos came in to relieve Gonzales to get the second out of the inning and then Juan Nicasio got the third out. Alex Colome pitched the eighth inning for the Mariners. It looked like Edwin Diaz would come in to get another save however Ryon Healy hit his second three-run homer of the game to make the score and final 8-2. Nick Vincent came in the ninth inning instead to finish off the Sox.
The Mariners had Mike Zunino back on Sunday after a short rehab assignment with Tacoma. Gonzales doesn't seem that he doesn't really need Mike behind the plate though the other pitchers do. As far as at the plate Mike was his usual self getting no hits in four at bats and striking out twice. His value is obvious has to do with how he works with the pitchers. Getting a home run out of him once in a while is only good measure. It would be nice if he could at least hit around .220. Outside of Gonzales the other starters struggled without Zunino behind the plate. We now have to see if they can correct themselves with him back now.
Outside of Healy's two home runs and six rbi's the Mariners offense continues to sputter. They only got four hits that were not out of the bat of Healy's who ended up with three hits. Dee Gordon had a triple while Jean Segura, Nelson Cruz and Kyle Seager each had a single. Mitch Haniger who didn't get a hit at least walked three times and scored twice. Time for the Mariners offense to step up and move into another gear. The Mariners can't depend totally on the pitching which has been suspect in itself outside of Gonzales lately. At least they are taking on the San Francisco Giants at Safeco Field for two games before going on the road. The Giants have a terrible record on the road. In fact is about the complete opposite from their home record. The Mariners need to take care of the Giants for sure. The Oakland A's took care of the Giants who should have won the game on Sunday so they are still three games behind the Mariners. While the Mariners take on the Giants the A's will be playing the Texas Rangers in Arlington. The Mariners have Monday off while the A's play the Rangers so they could gain or lose a half game to the Mariners.
The Mariners have talked about pitching Gonzales along with Paxton and Wade LeBlanc less innings however I am not sure if the Mariners can afford that depending who they may insert in the rotation. Gonzales has been pitching so well that it shouldn't be a problem pitching more games I wouldn't think anyway. Gonzales keeps going the way he is he may end up with seventeen or eighteen wins. In fact I would say these eleven wins are more than any of us expected out of Gonzales. Actually the Mariners at sixty wins is a big surprise to say the least. Now they can get their offense going with their pitching the Mariners should be just fine. They do have a solid lineup long as they can hit together or have someone like Healy hitting multiple home runs. Go M's.
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