A's Even Series

We were all hoping that the Seattle Mariners would win the final game of the series on Sunday so they take 3 out of 4 games but that didn’t happen. The problem had to do with the offense and the bullpen again like what has happened over the last several weeks.

Felix Hernandez pitched well the first five innings however like in many of his starts the offense scored only one run in the first inning. Right fielder Piscotty hit a solo home run in the fifth inning to tie the game at 1-1. The sixth inning was Felix and the Mariners downfall where the A’s scored four runs. In part the problem was that Mike Zunino had a pass ball and Felix a wild pitch that lead to the A’s 5-1. At that point it didn’t look good for them because not sure if the offense could come back. In the top of the eighth inning the Mariners did score a run to make it 5-2 though they did have the opportunity to score even more runs. All the Mariner relievers had to do is keep a hold so the Mariners had some chance to score in the ninth inning however James Pazos just called up from Tacoma gave up a single and a walk then was replace by Justin Grimm who came up as well with Pazos gave up a three-run home run to Piscotty to make the score 8-2 and that was it.

Shows to me that Scott Servais should only rely on the pitchers in the bullpen who have been there most of the season; if they were not in the playoff race than I would say go for it but not now. Also would change if the Mariners are mathematically out of the race as well. The Mariners have won seventy-six games and are fifteen games above five hundred because the duo of Colome and Diaz in the eighth and ninth innings. The rest of the bullpen has mostly been down though they have had their moments at times. The success now will have to rely on the starting rotation going at least six innings and the top of the lineup. Outside of Ryon Healy who is hitting well right now and Ben Gamel the bottom of the lineup has holes in it. Earlier in the season the success the whole lineup was doing well except Zunino. The Mariners need to find another catcher in the off-season to work alongside Zunino.  He has shown over the last several years except for a short period of time he isn’t going to hit the ball on a consistent basis with an occasional home run.

Now the Mariners take on the Baltimore Orioles in a three game series starting Monday in Seattle followed by three against the Yankees next weekend. It will be important that the Mariners take all the games or at least five of six to have any more chance to make the playoffs. Facing the Orioles at the same time the Yankees will be in Oakland to take on the A’s. The Mariners will need the Yankees to sweep that series at the same time the Mariners do the same to the Orioles.