The Seattle Mariners went into Oakland to see
if they can beat the A’s after sweeping the Houston Astros. This being the
first game of the series it always seems to be an important game especially
when the season is coming to a close and every game counts for something.
During the season especially the last month
or so it is easy to wonder who these guys are. The first seven inning the
Mariners looked like a team that wasn’t playing nineteen games above five
hundred instead of one that is nineteen games below.
Marco Gonzales who has twelve victories on
the season and the most wins by any starter on the team had trouble in this
game. He was able to go only five innings throwing ninety-seven pitches which are
around his limit. The Mariners don’t want him going over a hundred pitches if
possible. In the five inning he gave up eight hits, walked three which is
unusual for him and struck out four. He has been striking out more than four
hitters a game though he isn’t overpowering and throws more like Wade LeBlanc
or Jamie Moyer.
The Mariners did have a solid chance after
five innings being down 4-1 though the offense wasn’t going well however Casey
Lawrence who recently was brought up from Tacoma pitched the remaining three
innings however he gave up three runs all in the sixth inning to make it 7-1.
The Mariners offense came alive in the eighth
inning when they scored a run off of starter Sean Manaea who had been going
along smoothly before had and then in the eighth inning he was replaced by
former Mariners Emilio Pagan who gave up two hits and yield another run to make
it 7-3.
The odds were still against the Mariners to
win the game because they would have to score five runs to win in regulation
time. Mitch Haniger continues blistering the ball hit a double that allowed the
Mariners get closer to winning. He had three hits in the game while Jean Segura
had four out of the team’s ten hits. The Mariners came in a whisper to win the
game scoring three runs off of reliever Jeurys Familia who the A’s had recently
picked up from the New York Mets. The Mariners had the tying and leading run on
base after closer Blake Treinen came into the game. Treinen actually had trouble
giving up two hits but struck out three Mariners to close the door. So the
Mariners did have another one run game however this time they were not able to
secure the win.
James Paxton who is expected to be the
stopper will go for his eleventh win for the Mariners against right hander Mike
Fiers who is making his second start for the A’s since being traded over by the
Detroit Tigers. He went five and a third innings giving up four hits and a run.
We hope that the Mariners can get off early and often against him. Fiers the
Mariners beat back in May when he was pitching for the Tigers. The Mariners won
the game 7-2. This would be great for the Mariners so Wednesday’s afternoon
game would be for winning the series. The Mariners will have Mike Leake going
for them against lefty Brett Anderson. Back in May he did beat the Mariners 3-2
going against James Paxton. We hope that the Mariners will have a better answer
for him next time.
The Mariners are now two and a half games
behind the A’s. The Mariners win these two remaining games then they will be
only a half a game behind them. The Mariners have done well against them in
Oakland. This season they were 2-1 against the A’s in Oakland before Monday
night’s game. Go M’s.
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