The Seattle Mariners started out well Friday night against the Houston Astros at home at T-Mobile Park. Yes it is hard to remember it isn't Safeco Field any longer. The Mariners scored a run in the first inning with a hit by Tim Beckham that brought in a run. They could have had more runs scored since they had several runners on base and Wade Wiley had thrown 40 pitches already in the first inning. In the second inning, the Mariners scored two more runs to make the score 3-0. It looked like the Mariners were on the way to another victory but it turned out not to be.
The top of the third inning George Springer hit a two-run homer to make the lead 3-2. Wiley throwing so many pitches left the game after four innings. The two-run homer given up by LeBlanc were the only two runs he gave up on the night but he had to leave the gave in the fifth inning because of an oblique injury. It looks like LeBlanc will be out for a while, but how long won't know until later on Saturday so the Mariners will have to recall a pitcher to take his spot.
The likely two pitchers who will take LeBlanc's spot in the rotation and the roster will be Justus Sheffield who started Friday night for the Tacoma Rainiers or Erik Swanson who pitched his first time on Thursday in Kansas City. He was sent back down to Tacoma on Friday along with reliever Matt Festa.
Shawn Armstrong who was recalled on Friday from Tacoma where he was on a rehab assignment came in for LeBlanc. I know there are those who are questioning Servais reason for putting Armstrong into the game with a one-run lead because he ended up giving up a grand slam home run to Jose Altuve in the sixth inning. This made the score 6-3 Astros. The Mariners were able to score two runs in the seventh inning to make it a close game once again being behind 6-5.
In the eighth inning though R.J. Alaniz who was making his Mariner debut also being recalled from Tacoma on Friday was not made welcomed either by the Astros. He gave up a grand slam home run as well to make the score 10-5.
Catcher Tom Murphy ended up hitting his first home of the season. This extended the Mariners having a home run in each of their sixteen games a major league record to make the final Houston 10 Seattle 6. The Mariners now have a season record of 13-3. Now they have to see if they can even the series Saturday night with Felix Hernandez starting against Justin Verlander. Won't be an easy task but the Mariners continue hitting well off the other team's starter.
Besides making a move to replace LeBlanc for now the Mariners will probably send Alaniz back down to Tacoma and bring up another fresh reliever since he pitched two innings as well. I am sure if he is sent down we will see him again.
The loss to the Astros means the Mariners now have a three-game lead over Houston who has a record of 9-5. The Oakland A's are a game behind Houston at 10-8.
The Mariners have been able to come to win after all three losses so I believe they can do so once again. Go M's.
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