Another Blowup Game

Saturday night's game in Oakland became another blowup game. If you didn't watch it or you left early that was it. The best play of the night for the Mariners was when JP Crawford made a great dive flipped to Dylan Moore onto first base.

The Mariners defense wasn't stellar as Mallex Smith had an error along with Kyle Seager and Crawford who had an error on fielding and throwing despite the great dive earlier.

Gerson Bautista started the game for the second time as the opener. Again it was a disaster where he lasted two-thirds of an inning giving up three runs on two hits and three walks. His fastball was in the upper 90s but he couldn't get his pitches over the plate. The two hits were solid ones by the Athletics.

This game Wade LeBlanc who entered in the first inning didn't have his A game. He lasted only two and two-thirds innings giving up six runs. He gave up a solo home run in the second inning and five more runs in the fourth inning primarily on doubles.

Reliever Tayler Scott relieved LeBlanc going two innings. The A's scored two runs in the sixth inning with Scott on the mound but both of them were not earned runs.

Jesse Biddle went an inning and two-thirds innings giving up just one hit though he did strikeout a better. Anthony Bass pitched the eighth inning for the Mariners giving up no hits and walking one batter.  We will see if the Mariners can rebound and win Sunday afternoon before returning home to play the Kansas City Royals on Monday. 

Mike Leake is scheduled to start. This could be one of the last starts he makes in a Mariner uniform as the Mariners are looking to unload most of the veteran players.

During the game, news came out that Edwin Encarnacion was traded to the New York Yankees for a prospect. The Mariners will pay about half of Encarnacion remaining salary. I wish the Mariners had picked up a second prospect in the deal too. We wish you the best Edwin in New York. You did the Mariners proud the time you were here. 

I figure Jerry Dipoto must believe in the prospects he had already picked up prior to the Bruce and Encarnacion trades. The prospects will have to perform well in the years ahead along with the players that will be on the roster next year or the next several years will be misery with many losses. This happens where they don't do well for several years Dipoto and Servais each will be gone at the end of their contacts. That is a reality all. 

I do hope the Mariners do well with as many prospects as they can. They will have the cash to spend to fill areas that the prospects don't. This year's draft helped with the future pitching we hope. The cash will probably fill in the top of the rotation and the bullpen. Go M's.