Astros Swept

I am sure we are all surprised that the Mariners swept the Astros in a four game series. It is one of the hardest things to do no matter how good or bad the other team is however the Mariners did it in fine fashion.

The Astros have what most would call the best five-man starting rotation in the major leagues and the Mariners faced their top four pitchers.

What made the sweep amazing beyond the fact they were able to score some runs against the Astros the Mariners starts were able to match up with them. In the first game the Mariner hitters were able get to Justin Verlander early scoring six runs in the first two innings making him an early exit.

A breakdown of the pitching in the series the Mariners scored total of twenty runs with fifteen of them against the starters. So the Astros bullpen which was the questionable part of the pitching gave up only five runs.  The Mariner pitchers gave up a total of thirteen in the series with 8 runs and half of those were by James Paxton in game number one in five and two-third innings. Mike Leake and Wade LeBlanc each gave up two runs in their starts with Leake going six innings and LeBlanc five. The biggest surprise was in the final game of the series Erasmo Ramirez making his first start of the season coming off rehab and pitching in Felix’s spot shut out the Astros in five innings. The fifth inning was the inning he had the hardest time however was able to get through it.

The Mariners’ bullpen gave up five runs in fourteen and a third innings. Two runs in the first game and then three runs in the final game. The two middle games they didn’t give up a run at all. Edwin Diaz got a save in all four games. The last pitcher to get four saves in a four game series was Joe Nathan when he was with the Minnesota Twins in 2004; quite an accomplishment for sure.

Another big story of the series was Scott Servais changed the lineup around including inserting Mitch Haniger in the leadoff spot. It all started off with Haniger leading off the first game of the series hitting a home run off of Verlander. It was awesome the rest of the way. In total he had nine hits in seventeen at bats and drove in four runs. Not bad for first four games leading off. I am sure we will see him at leadoff in the Oakland A’s. As long as he is hitting well I am sure we will see him in that spot.

Sunday’s game the Mariners hero in the 4-3 victory was Ryon Healy who hit a home run to tie the game at 3-3 in the top of the ninth after the Astros scored all three runs of theirs in the eighth inning. He then drove in the winning run with a single in the top of the tenth inning. What an exciting way to finish off the Astros.

The Mariners now go to Oakland to take on the A’s still a game and a half behind them. The Mariners will be able to come closer if they can win at least two of the three games. They do that they are a half a game behind the A’s while they sweep the A’s they will trade spots and have a game and a half lead over them. While the Mariners and A’s play the Astros will be at home against the Colorado Rockies for two games. Of course we will be rooting for the Rockies. The Astros then will go to Oakland next weekend while the Mariners will be home to play the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Astros then will come to Seattle next week to play the Mariners Monday thru Wednesday. We are hoping at that point the race between the Mariners, Astros and A’s will be real tight. I am sure the stands will be filled with big crowds for those six games. Go M’s.