Mariners Don't Sweep Twins

Going into the bottom of the sixth inning the Mariners had a chance to sweep the Minnesota Twins with the game tied at 1-1; however, they had to go to the bullpen which once again cost the Mariners the game. 

Yusei Kikuchi had a rough outing though he only gave up one run and that was to former Mariner Nelson Cruz who hit a home run in the third inning. Kikuchi had runners on base in almost every inning but was able to get out where the Twins couldn't score. The Mariners relievers couldn't do the same thing.

The Mariners tied the score in the top of the sixth inning but Brandon Brennan couldn't hold the Twins at bay. The Twins had runners on first and third without an out. The batter was on a count of 2-2; all Brennan had to do was strike out the batter and get the other runner out on a double play. Even if he couldn't do that the Twins could have had the runner on third score on a fly out or a ground ball out to second; instead Brennan tried to pick the runner off first but the ball went into the dirt so the runner scored from third and the other advanced. 

Brennan wasn't able to get a single out and he was replaced by Corey Gearrin who didn't do much better other than getting one out. When the sixth inning ended the Twins had scored six runs and they were ahead 7-1. Things didn't get better where the Twins scored three more runs in the seventh inning which included a two-run homer by CJ Cron who has lived off Mariner pitching for years. He is another the Mariners should never pitch too. So that left the score 10-1 going into the eighth inning.

The hope for the Mariners was to see how many runs they could score in the last two innings since the Twins relievers aren't much better than the Mariners. The Mariners scored two runs both in the eighth and ninth innings. The final was 10-5.

After the game, Brennan said that he had a fatigued and sore shoulder which isn't really a surprise so he could be going on the ten-day injured list. We will know more sometime on Friday if that is the case. Whether it is an injury or not I would say add Brennan to the injury list. 

The Mariners are expected to reactivate JP Crawford on Friday before playing the Oakland A's over the weekend. The Mariners have had success playing the A's in Oakland so hopefully, it will happen again. The Mariners might make a couple moves with Crawford coming back and Brennan to the injured list. 

No news on the trading block but something could happen over the weekend or sometime soon. Just under seven weeks until the trading deadline on July 31. I am sure the Mariners will make at least a couple of transactions over this period. Go M's. 

Seahawks Offensive Line

I know that I haven't written much on the Seahawks because it is baseball season though the Mariners are not having a good season so far, however, we are getting closer to the season. 

The Seahawks had OTA's and mini-camp the last three weeks. Not much news out of there though. Some fans like going out and few the players especially the new ones but I would rather watch the Mariners.  

Last week I believe Duane Brown said that he thinks the Seahawks will have the best offensive line in the NFL this coming season. I am sure most fans are skeptical though they will probably be better since it will be the third year that most of them will be together. 

What will make us believe is if the Seahawks lead the NFL in rushing, and Russell Wilson won't have to run for his life. We will have to see how the passing game goes without Doug Baldwin. I am sure Tyler Lockett will be the inside slot receiver on third down. He will be on long passes as well. 

I am looking forward to a good season out of the Washington Huskies football team as well. It will be interesting to watch a new quarterback at the helm along with the running backs and receivers. Also, seeing new faces on defense too.

We will have to see turns out to be the quarterback at Washington State as well and see what kind of success they will have too. It would be nice to see the Pac-12  North division come down to the Apple Cup.  

I will provide updates and analysis over the summer well as when the seasons start for Seahawks, Huskies, and Cougars. It can take its time so we can enjoy the summer too.  

Exciting Finish

You wanted to see good offense and not great pitching it happened the last part of Wednesday's game. The game was 1-1 after seven innings. Tommy Milone pitched another wonderful game for six innings after coming into the game in the second inning. The Mariners used the opener once again. Gerson Batista did his first hand as the opener going one and third innings when Milone entered the game at 0-0. 

The Mariners scored first with Daniel Vogelbach hitting a home run in the sixth inning. The Twins tied it in the seventh inning on a home run by Marwin Gonzalez. The Mariners scored five runs in the eighth inning in part by Shed Long's first major league home run with two runners on base. 

Milone and the bullpen couldn't hold the lead where the Twins scored three in the eighth and two more in the ninth to tie it. I was almost sure the Twins would win on a walk-off home run but fortunately, it didn't happen.

The Mariners scored three runs in the 10th. Dee Gordon started off having a double then Long walked. Dylan Moore was able to lay down a sacrifice bunt to move Gordon and Long along. Mallex Smith hit a grounder to Miguel Sano who tried to get Gordon at home but a wild throw scored Gordon and Long. The Mariners added another run making it 9-6 which turned out the final score.

Roenis Elias came in and took care of the Twins in fast order getting them on ten pitches.

Yusei Kikuchi will start the final game of the series Thursday at noon. The Mariners will see if they can sweep the Twins. This hasn't happened for some time. Whether they win or not they will go to Oakland with at least four wins. This is looking like a successful road trip which the Mariners really need. 

Blown Save

The Mariners haven't had the opportunity to have a save in the last three weeks or so; however, Tuesday the bullpen did blow one.

The Mariners scored first in the third inning when Edwin Encarnacion who has been really hot, hitting eight already in June hit a three-run homer to put the Mariners up 3-0. Encarnacion now has 21 home runs on the season.

The Minnesota Twins scored three runs in the fourth inning to tie the game including a two-run homer by second baseman Jonathan Schoop then catcher Jason Castro followed with a solo home run.

The Mariners scored a run in the fifth and seventh inning to put them ahead 5-3 going into the eighth inning. Brandon Brennan who has struggled as of late gave up a couple hits without getting an out. Austin Adams came in to relieve him. He gave up a hit and a wild pitch that allowed three runs, however, they were applied to Brennan though Adams was recorded with a blown save.  

The Mariners don't have many choices late in the game but Brennan anyway looks like he needs to have a break. Someone thought he should be sent down, however, he is a draft 5 pick the Mariners picked up the last off-season so can't be sent down. He would have to be offered back to his former club the Colorado Rockies. So I am sure the Mariners won't do so.  There is a possibility they could put him on the injured list though.

Tommy Milone is expected to start Wednesday night for the Mariners though there was thought they would have a reliever open the game like in his last start. With Austin Adams pitching last night I am sure the decision was changed. Thursday afternoon Yusei Kikuchi will start. He changes places Marco Gonzales who the Mariners decided to give an extra day off.

Shortstop JP Crawford is doing a rehab assignment at single-A Modesto. The thought is that he may be ready to be activated on Friday when the Mariners go to Oakland to take on the A's. Right now hard to say who could be sent down. It might be Shed Long so he can play every day in Tacoma.  This would put Dylan Moore back in the utility role. The Mariners could trade Tim Beckham if there are any takers out there. The Mariners likely wouldn't get much for him in return though. Most likely a low single-A player I expect. In the meantime, the Mariners hope to bounce back tonight against the Twins who are having an excellent season so far. Go M's.  

Mariners Take Series

It has been a while but the Mariners beat the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday 9-3 to take two out of three from the Angels  The last time the Mariners won a series was back on May 13 and 14 when they beat the Oakland A's in a two-game series. Before that, we have to go back to April 18 thru April 21 when the Mariners beat these Angels three out of four games again took place in Anaheim.

The Mariners had another long ball day hitting six home runs. It started off with catcher Tom Murphy hitting a two-run homer in the second inning. It was the first of two home runs that Murphy hit on Sunday. The Angels had a home run off of Wade LeBlanc in the third inning making it 2-1.

No scoring again happened until the sixth inning when Edwin Encarnacion hit a two-run homer followed by Daniel Vogelbach massive home run making it back to back. Also, Encarnacion hit another home run in the seventh inning making it #400 on his career. The Mariners had a final home run in the ninth inning by Kyle Seager to conclude the scoring after the Angels scored a run on reliever Gerson Batista who made his second outing after being recalled from a rehab assignment.

Wade LeBlanc pitched another fine game going six innings giving up six hits, two runs, a walk, and struck out eight. He came in the second inning after Austin Adams pitched a scoreless first inning. Adams struck out two of the three batters he faced on sixteen pitches. 

The Mariners now have Monday off before playing three games in Minnesota and three more in Oakland before returning home. Dee Gordon is expected to come off the injured list and resume playing second base. The Mariners are expected to send down a reliever to Tacoma in his place.

In sad news, former Mariner farmhand and Boston great David Ortiz was shot in his native Dominican Republic on Sunday. The good news he is going to be OK. So give out your prayers to him.

Another Terrible Start

The Mariners continue having bad first innings and it happened again on Saturday. It started with two outs when Shohei Ohtani picked up an infield hit beating a throw from second baseman Shed Long. Albert Pujols hit a double over the head of Kyle Seager into left field. Catcher Kevan Smith hit a blooper into right-center to score Ohtani and Pujols. Smith ended up scoring because of an error. 

Ohtani had the best of his countryman Yusei Kikuchi who lasted only three and third innings. Besides the infield hit Ohtani had a home run off of Kikuchi which chased him. It was the third home run in a row off of Kikuchi as leadoff hitter La Stella and Mike Trout had home runs ahead of him. 

Kikuchi leaving the game in the fourth inning the Angels were leading 7-2. Kyle Seager hit a home run in the top of the second inning and the Mariners scored another run in the third inning. This again was another poor outing by Kikuchi not having his best stuff once again but can't put all the blame on him because of the errors.

Tayler Scott making his major league debut, being called up from Tacoma, the first South-African ever to pitch in the major leagues had tough going as well. He went two and two-thirds innings giving up three runs on four hits. Though it wasn't the debut he would have liked, he did strike out four angels and walked only one. His fastball reached the mid-90s. He did look like he could be a good reliever for the Mariners over time. Not sure whether he will stick around when Dee Gordon is expected to be activated on Tuesday from the injured list or not but I expect it won't be last we see of him either.

Jesse Biddle who the Mariners acquired a couple weeks ago from the Atlanta Braves didn't fare so well either. He went two innings giving up two runs on three hits including a two-run homer. 

We do hope things change around on Sunday. Wade LeBlanc is expected to pitch, however, he may not start the game and come in the second inning instead. Not sure who will start the game instead. Since the Mariners only had two relievers in Saturday's game it could be anyone. 

The final score ended up being 12-3. The game was closer than the score indicated that is for sure. The defense and pitching need to be better than it has been. It will continue to be a long season without changes. Probably will be since we will see trades happening before the deadline at the end of July. It will be interesting to see who stays well as those that leave. Go M's. 

Mariners Win Opener On New Road Trip

The Mariners lost a heart breaker on Thursday night to the Houston Astros on Thursday afternoon going 14 innings 8-7. Friday night they beat the Angels in Anaheim 6-2. They looked like the team in some ways that got off to the good start at the beginning of the season.  

We know the pitching will continue being a problem it was nice to see them do a fine job Friday night against the Angels and the offense do well as well. Marco Gonzales won his first game in more than a month. He struggled on the mound going 5 2/3 innings but he was able to get Mike Trout and Albert Pujols pretty effectively though Kole Calhoun hit a home run off of him; fortunately, it was without anyone on base which was good. 

The bullpen was able to keep the Angels at bay not giving up a run over three and third innings. Cory Gearrin finished off the sixth inning then followed by Austin Adams, Brandon Brennan, and Roenis Elias each throwing an inning. Elias had the most trouble walking two batters. He did throw a strike to get the last batter on a 3-2 pitch.

The Mariners scored five of their six runs by the long ball. Domingo Santana hit two solo home runs in the fifth and seventh innings. Also, catcher Tom Murphy hit the big blow hitting a home run with two runners on base.

Santana is looking more comfortable back in his old surroundings in right field. In fact, he had to wrestle a ball away from an Angel fan for an out. Mitch Haniger had to go on the injured list so at least for the next several weeks Santana will be in right field. 

With Haniger going on the injured list the Mariners have only the three outfielders. They will likely have to go with Beckham and Moore in the outfield if necessary. The Mariners brought up reliever Tayler Scott, a South-African from Tacoma to take Haniger's spot so the Mariners are going with 14 pitchers right now and 11 position players. We hope no more injuries will happen to the position players.  This is expected to go through this series only. The Mariners are hoping to activate Dee Gordon on Tuesday. He currently is on a rehab assignment with the Tacoma Rainiers. He made his first appearance with the Rainiers on Friday night going one for four. 

Tayler Scott when he makes his first appearance which may be Saturday according to manager Scott Servais will be the first South-African to pitch in the major leagues.

Ryon Healy had a setback in regards to his injury so not sure right now when he will start a rehab assignment. 

Yusei Kikuchi will be starting for the Mariners on Saturday after being given a break not starting when his turn came up last time. Having a couple poor performances the Mariners felt he needed a break. We hope to see old Kikuchi on the mound. Wade LeBlanc will start on Sunday after coming in the second inning on his last outing where he went the rest of the way giving up only one run. Unfortunately, the Mariners lost that game. 

The Mariners will have Monday off before playing the Twins in Minnesota for three games then onto Oakland for three next weekend. Go M's.