The Seattle Mariners now go into their four final games at
home and the season against the Texas Rangers after losing the final game of
the series against the A’s.
The A’s ended up beating the Mariners 9-3 on Wednesday night.
The Mariners were hoping that Felix Hernandez could have a successful outing in
his last game of the season but was for naught. He started into the fifth
inning however left with a runner on base. He gave up five runs on three hits,
two walks and struck out four. All but one of the runs was earned. He threw a
ball into the outfield trying to get a double play on ball hit back to him.
Chasen Bradford coming in for Felix lasted only two-thirds of
an inning including giving up a grand-slam home run to first baseman Matt Olson
making the score 8-2.
Felix gave up a home run in both the first and second inning
however Ben Gamel hit a double in the bottom of the second to drive in Nelson
who walked and Kyle Seager hitting a single to tie the game 2-2. Stayed that
way until the fifth inning when the A’s scored six runs. The Mariners scored
another run the last of the game in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice fly
by Nelson Cruz. The A’s scored one final run with a home run Casey Lawrence
gave up in the seventh inning.
The big question now will be whether Felix Hernandez can make
the starting rotation, sent to the bullpen or released where the Mariners will
still have to pay off $25 million left on a last year of his current contract.
He could retire as well. I am sure we will find out in the months ahead.
Marco Gonzales will be making his final start of the season
against the Texas Rangers in the first game of the series. Marco is going after
his 14 win of the season. Though his second half not nearly good as the first
half this is still better than anyone expected out of him this season. Has a
lot for us to look forward to next year.
Wade LeBlanc will start Friday going for his ninth win of the
season. He has a solid era of 3.55. He should have a spot in next year’s
rotation depending on who the Mariners might pick up after the season. Saturday
and Sunday games don’t have the starters listed as of yet. They could go with
James Paxton and Mike Leake. Paxton is one strike out from having two hundred
on the season so I am sure he will want to pitch. Erasmo Ramirez might start if
Leake doesn’t go on Sunday.
I am sure we will see a mixture of starting position players
and reserves in these last four games. If the Mariners can beat the Rangers in
all four games then they could end the season with 90 wins. Though a
disappointment not making the play offs after having an 11 game lead over the A’s
in late May this still would be an accomplishment.
Jerry Dipoto will be looking to see what changes he will make
to the roster during the upcoming off-season. We will have to see whether he
moves Dee Gordon back to center field full time or have him play some second
base as well. With Robinson Cano will he play some second base along with first
base? How will this work with Ryon Healy? Will the Mariners decide to trade him
or play him like they have since Cano came back on August 14. A lot of answers
to come along with the starting rotation and the bullpen; the Mariners offense
needs improvement over the second half of the season when they scored under
four runs a game when they were at 4.25 before the all-star break. It will all
be interesting to see. I will be saying more after the season. Go M’s.
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