Orioles Win Over Mariners

Right now the Mariners don’t look like a very good baseball team. Actually it has been going on for a while you could say back to the all-star break in July.

The culprit this time like many was the offense and middle relief. The Mariners took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Robinson Cano hit a home run but they couldn’t score any more runs until late in the game.

Wade LeBlanc who pitched an outstanding game went six innings giving up six hits, 1 walk and striking out four. I heard fans criticizing manager Scott Servais for taking out LeBlanc when he only through sixty-eight pitches. I am sure Servais reason was he wanted to keep LeBlanc’s innings at this mark to be able to use him the rest of the season. It does sound reasonable however the Mariners are in a playoff race and what is usual should not be happening. Other words I believe you have to go with the best pitchers no matter how long until they are eliminated from the playoffs. Since he had only thrown sixty-eights he should have gone one more inning. Servais could have the bullpen ready if LeBlanc gave up a hit in the seventh inning this way he could turn it over to Alex Colome and Edwin Diaz.

Adam Warren came in the seventh inning however he gave up three hits and one run without getting an out. Lefty specialist Zach Duke didn’t do much better giving up a one run in a third of an inning. Nick Vincent who has had a poor season himself gave up a hit but did finish off the seventh inning. So at this point the Orioles were leading 4-1. The way the Mariners offense has been going as of late that is hard deficit to overcome.

The offense did give them a chance in the eighth inning scoring two runs  that included another hit by Cano who actually had three in the game. Nelson Cruz got a single then Cano came home on a Ryon Healy rbi. The Mariners had the bases loaded but only were able to bring Nelson Cruz across the plate. So the score at that point was 4-3 but the Orioles score another run in the ninth but the Mariners weren’t able to produce any more runs. So the final was 5-3.

Right now the Mariners are a five hundred team at best which means unless the offense comes alive and the bullpen besides Colome and Diaz can do the job then they will be home for the playoffs. Diaz by the way was named reliever of the month once again.

Before the game Dee Gordon asked the media to leave the clubhouse because of a scuffle happening in the clubhouse. No details about who was involved however the game showed it didn’t help the offense or bullpen that is for sure; it would be nice though that this turn into something positive the rest of the season. I just hope that I can write positive posts about the Mariners then the same things happening most recently. Go M’s.