are playing the Los Angeles Dodgers
at home. One of the top teams in
the National League. In fact they are
close to clinching the West Division.
Very similar to the Toronto Blue Jays
they have quite a few fans in the stands.
Unlike the Blue Jays I expect most these
fans are transplants from Southern
California.
Hard enough to play a game against
a team as good as the Dodgers in any circumstance but a game that might feel like a home game doesn't help either. I am sure they have the same feeling in other
places they play as well.
The game was tight and the feeling one
pitch or two could make the difference
in the game which turned out to be
true. The first three and half innings
the game was scoreless. Eugenio Suarez
hit a pitch which was pretty close in the
middle for a homer. Putting the Mariners
up one to nothing.
The lead was shirt lived as George Kirby
threw a mistake pitch to LA shortstop
Miguel Rojas for a two run homer. The
Dodgers have quite a lineup of power
hitters though this was the fourth home
run on the season for Rojas. I can imagine
Kirby wasn't happy to give a home run
to someone who hits a home run infrequently as Rojas.
The top of the sixth inning the Dodgers
scored two more runs with Max Muncy
hitting a triple to right field with catcher
Will Smith who was on base by being
hit on a pitch by Kirby. JD Martinez
who the Mariners are familiar with in
his time with the Boston Red Sox hit
a hard single to score Muncy.
The Mariners scored two runs in
the bottom of the sixth to make
it a one run lead. Teoscar Hernandez
who continues is on base streak
hit a single to score Julio. Eugenio
Suarez hit into a double play however
Cal Raleigh scored.
A difference in the two teams the Dodgers are better hitting in the clutch then
the Mariners or their pitchers are better getting out circumstances. Whatever the case they show why they are a better team at least for one game anyway.
The Dodgers add a run in both the 8th
and 9th inning making it a 6-3 victory.
The Mariners had eleven hits on the
night believing why they could have
scored more runs. The trouble is they
struck out eleven times as well. Not a
good answer to help win games.
Saturday's game Bryce Miller will
face off against Dodgers ace Clayton
Kershaw. On paper this looks like
a favor for the Dodgers once again.
Kershaw has a record of 12-4 with
an era of 2.61 while Miller is 8-5
with an era of 4.05. For the Mariners
to have the best chance of winning
they will need to get to Kershaw early
on in the game. We do hope for M's
victory in this one though won't be
easy for sure.
The Mariners have fifteen games
remains in the regular season. They
will to win nine to get to 90 wins.
It won't be an easy task however the best chance to be in the playoffs.
The Mariners are now third in the West
a game and a half behind Houston
and a game behind the Rangers. The
Mariners need to get back to how they
played in August to have success.
They are a half game ahead of Toronto
for the third playoff spot.
The Orioles have a slight edge over
the Tampa Bay Rays however both
teams should make the playoffs with
one of them having the first wildcard
spot. The Mariners can still win the
division or be the second wildcard as
well as third. It should come down
on how the Mariners play against
the Rangers and Astros coming up.
Go M's
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