Three and One To Go

I am sure everyone is surprised that the Mariners now have beaten the Astros three times with a chance of a sweep on Sunday afternoon. Erasmo Ramirez is expected to make his first start of the season for the Mariners in the place of Felix Hernandez.

Since it is his first start and coming for rehab starts in the minors I believe that Ramirez will not pitch any more than five innings depending on his pitch count. I expect that Felix Hernandez will be the first one to come out of the bullpen to pitch depending on the score.

Wade LeBlanc went five innings for the Mariners giving up two runs on three hits all in the second inning when second baseman Yuli Gurriel hit a single than right fielder Josh Reddick hit a double and then first baseman Tyler White drove them both in on a single.

The Mariners scored their three runs in the fourth inning when they had four straight hits beginning with Nelson Cruz single followed by Kyle Seager had a double to drive him in, catcher Chris Herrmann hit a triple to bring in Seager and Ryon Healy drove in Herrmann with a single.

Nick Vincent came in the sixth inning and went one and a third innings then left specialist Zach Duke got one out and then Adam Warren came in for him to finish off the seventh. Alex Colome pitched the eighth inning. He did struggle giving up two hits and a walk before getting through without giving up a run.

Edwin Diaz came in the ninth to seal the victory striking out two batters and getting his forty-fifth save.

Since Colome and Diaz each pitched in all three wins against the Astros I don’t expect either one to pitch in Sunday’s game. I expect the most likely closer would be James Pazos who hasn’t pitched since Wednesday against the Texas Rangers. No one else would look like the choice to close the game if necessary.

The Mariners have a record of 68-50 now being five games behind the Astros and a game and a half behind the A’s. Depending on how things go today the Mariners will have three games in Oakland against the A’s so could be in a good place if they can sweep the A’s. Go M’s.