No Surprise in Colorado

 

The Mariners brought up Christian Bergman to start the game Friday night against the Colorado Rockies. He didn't fair too well going four and a third innings. It isn't easy for pitchers in Coors Field so giving up six hits, five runs and two walks without a strike out. Three of the runs were on two home runs by the Rockies. A solo in the first and a two-run blast in the third. At that point the Rockies were leading 4-2 lead.

 

The Rockies started Jeff Hoffman who was a replacement for the initial starter however he only went three and a third innings despite Colorado's lead. I wonder why the Mariners didn't do the same with Bergman because they did bring up two other pitchers Mike Morin and Casey Lawrence who actually pitched in the game but why not sooner is my question. The Mariners brought in lefty James Pazos who replaced Bergman because the Rockies had a left handed batter coming to the plate however Pazos didn't fair too well in the game. He pitched two-thirds of an inning giving up three runs on four hits. Mike Morin came in the sixth inning pitching two innings giving up three hits and two runs. Casey Lawrence finished the game pitching the bottom of the eighth. He gave up a hit, a walk and struck out a batter without yielding a run.  I question why Servais didn't have Mike Morin go in the fourth inning for Bergman. He could have gone two or three innings and the same for Lawrence. The Mariners may have used Pazos still somewhere in the mix as well.

 

The Mariners were behind 10-3 going into the seventh when they scored four runs to make it a possibility to win however weren't able to score any runs in the eighth or ninth inning. So the final score was 10-7.

 

The Rockies scored most of their runs with two outs along with having contact behind on the count. Several of their hits they hit the ball the other way with two strikes. Saturday the Mariners will have Wade LeBlanc going for them and then Mike Leake on Sunday to head into the all-star break. With the use of Bergman, Morin, and Lawrence on Friday I wonder if the Mariners will make any other changes in the bullpen before the series is over. Lawrence should be still around since he did pitch only one inning. The Mariners do have the rest of the bullpen ready to go since they didn't go Friday night. I am sure Sunday many will be available since most will have a break for four days excluding Diaz who will likely appear in the all-star game.

 

The Mariners at least has a good chance to take one or both of the remaining games in Denver. Next Friday they will start a three game series against the Chicago White Sox. James Paxton who was added to the disabled list after being taken out in the first inning with a stiff lower back is expected to start  a week from Tuesday. Go M's.