A's Even Series with Mariners

Friday Night’s game between the Seattle Mariners and the Oakland A’s started out like Thursday’s except in reversal. Friday night the A’s were able to get five runs in the first inning after the Mariners went down one, two, and three. It looked hopeless at the time when the Mariners really need another win to stay in the race. In the second inning they took a baby step scoring a single run by catcher Chris Herrmann with two outs driving in Nelson Cruz who lead the inning off with a single.

In the fourth inning Cano and Cruz hit home runs back to back and then after a single by Kyle Seager the game was tied on a home run by Ryon Healy to make it 5-5. The A’s added on a single run in the fifth off Mariner starter Mike Leake. At the time I thought that Leake should have been removed in the bottom of the fourth inning but he didn’t give up a run that inning though he gave one up in the fifth inning then Adam Warren came in to finish off the fifth and pitched the sixth inning as well when he gave up another run.

The reason I thought Leake should have been taken out of the game in the fourth inning because the Mariners had come back to tie the game and he hadn’t pitched well. The Mariners I believe left him in because they didn’t have a long reliever available for this game though I would have brought in Warren then for a couple innings since they are in a playoff game or at least when Leake gave up another hit.

The big problem though was that the Mariners offense was not able to get any more runs off the A’s relievers.  Starter Mike Fiers was taken out in the fourth inning after giving up the four runs that inning with two outs. In the five and one-third innings the Mariners offense were only able to scrap two hits. They actually came in the eighth and ninth inning which did give some hope to see if the Mariners could come back to tie or go ahead in the game.

The positive thing coming in this game was that the Mariners offense were able to come back to tie the game to give them a chance to win the game. Although they were unable to add on they at least made the A’s pitch the backend of their bullpen in this game so on Saturday this could be an advantage to the Mariners. It is very important that the Mariners win both of these two remaining games in the series to have any chance to make the playoffs.

Now being September the Mariners will be able to call up some players to the roster. I just hope that they won’t need to use any of them unless the Mariners have a large lead. Now we will see what the team is made in these next two games and going forward. Go M’s.