Mariners End Losing Streak At Five

It was so nice to see the Mariners end their five game losing streak Sunday afternoon winning 6-3. Mike Leake was rolling along pretty good in the game leading 3-1 going into the seventh inning after Kyle Seager hit his first home run of two in the sixth inning. Leake though gave up a two-run homer to shortstop Aledmys Diaz to tie the game in the seventh inning at 3-3. I thought oh know are the Mariners going to find a way to lose this game. Fortunately Nelson Cruz hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning followed by Kyle Seager’s second home run of the game. This put the Mariners up 6-3.

Real good news to in the top of the eighth inning Alex Colome came in for the Mariners then Edwin Diaz in the ninth inning to shut the door. Diaz of the Blue Jays had an outstanding series including three in this game including the tying home run however he was no match for Edwin. It had been six days since we last saw Eddie so he was nice and refreshed. He looked like it for sure. We hope that the Mariners will have a good road trip playing ten games against the Rangers, Astros and the A’s before coming home to first face the Los Angeles Dodgers. I hope we see Diaz frequently on this road and when we don’t it is because the Mariners have a good lead in the game; if the Mariners can win seven out of ten games on this road trip this will put them back to twenty games above five hundred with a record of 71-51 with forty games remaining.

I know that could be asking for a lot the way they have been playing of late but we can only hope so. The most importance is winning the series against the Oakland at the end of the trip.

Wade LeBlanc will start the first game of the series against the Texas Rangers Monday night followed by Felix Hernandez on Tuesday night and Marco Gonzales Wednesday afternoon. Since the stadium in Arlington is a hitter’s park it will be important that these three guys keep the ball in the park. LeBlanc had trouble in his last outing so hopefully it doesn’t mean he has pitched too many innings. Felix will be tested again to see whether he stays in the rotation or not. Erasmo Ramirez is expected back soon after being on rehab assignment. The question will he take Felix spot or the Mariners go to a six-man rotation or he will work out of the bullpen as a long reliever. Gonzales continuing doing well though not as much the last time out hasn’t pitched so many innings either in a season. Even if they don’t go to a six-man rotation the Mariners could decide to skip the guys in each round as well. Mike Leake who has pitched a lot of innings in his career could be the only pitcher that doesn’t skip a turn. This will depend to whether the Mariners are able to stay in the race as well. Go M’s.