Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Dee Gordon Home Run Powers Mariners Over A's


Wednesday afternoon in a game the Mariners really needed to win it took them twelve innings to beat the Oakland A’s. The pitching was outstanding for both teams though the Mariners had opportunities to score runs in regulation time having a total of ten hits.

 




We have to give Mike Leake a big ovation since he was able to go eight innings shutting out the A’s giving up only two hits and walking one batter. Also he struck out six batters. For a while he looked like he may pitch a no-hitter. A’s pitcher Brett Anderson almost matched Leake going seven and two-thirds inning giving up five hits, no walks and two strike outs. Leake threw ninety-five pitches while Anderson had The Mariners tried get to the A’s bullpen to beat them but it took until the twelfth inning to do so. Mike Zunino walked and then Dee Gordon hit a home run to right field to score two runs. Mitch Haniger had a double after Guillermo Heredia got an out. Denard Span was not able to hit in Haniger so the score was 2-0 going into the bottom of the twelve inning.

The Mariners had Edwin Diaz read to go so he came in to get his forty-seventh save of the season. He gave up one hit however struck out three batters to record the save.

The Mariners now take on the Dodgers in Seattle starting on Friday to go over the weekend. So they are having a needed day off on Thursday though I always miss not seeing them play.  The Mariners have a record of 70-52 with forty games remaining. They split those games they will end with ninety wins. It would be good to see if that would be enough to make the playoffs but I am not sure whether it will. A lot depends how the Mariners do against the A’s and the Astros along with how they are playing against other teams. The Dodgers on the other hand are 64-57 and have gone 3-7 in the last ten games compared to the Mariners 6-4 record. The way the Mariners have been playing of late it is hard to know what direction they will go. It will be important that the guys do well at the plate and in the field. The Mariners will face two lefties on Saturday and Sunday in Rich Hill and Kershaw so it will be real important that the Mariners win the game Friday night. We know how the Mariners played the Astros it is possible to beat both of them but they will have play in the same manner.  The key for the Mariners is that the starting pitchers will be able to go at least six innings per game to give any chance to win.  Wade LeBlanc will take the mound for the Mariners on Friday followed by Erasmo Ramirez on Saturday. They both pitch like in their last outings the Mariners will be in good shape. Gonzales will have to do better in his next outing as he goes against Kershaw on Sunday.  Long as Alex Colome and Edwin Diaz keep pitching the way they have the bullpen will be in good shape. It will continue be interesting to see how Servais fills out lineup on a daily basis. Cano could be playing first base again on Friday while he could be going anywhere on Saturday and Sunday since Healy will probably be in the lineup. All we shout out now is go M’s.

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