Lookie here, a series win!
As I've probably mentioned before, I'm a "half-season ticket holder" - I have tickets to all the Friday, Saturday, Sunday games. Over the weekend, it became imperative that I attend Michael Pineda's Safeco Field debut, and I decided to really treat myself (just as I had for Felix's home debut) so I traded a couple of my 300 level tickets + a little cash (it was a "value" game) for a seat in the 100 level - in the 11th row!
But first, a stop in The 'pen for some pizza and to watch Michael warmup...
Then, the first pitch...
on the mound
Michael was SPECTACULAR - all 6'7" and 260 lbs of him! (103P - 7.1IP - 5H - 1ER - 2BB - 7K)
Essentially, he sailed through SEVEN innings, walked ONE in the 2nd inning, gave up TWO singles in the 4th and another in the 5th - all without allowing a run. His fast ball was consistently in the upper 90's and his slider was working ~ "Diabolical!" (as Dave would say). But, it was evident that he was tiring in the 8th (what do I know, but I would have taken him out after he gave up a lead-off single, K'd the next batter and then allowed another walk) but, Wedge left him in. Olivo was charged with a passed ball on the next batter that allowed both runners to advance and eventually score when said batter (none other than that pesky almost-M Cory Patterson) singled.
Nevertheless, Michael received a really nice standing O when Wedge finally did take him out. Oh, and thanks to the new pitch-counter at Safeco Field, I noted that Michael threw 24 (out of 29) first pitch strikes.
Chris Ray followed, a little scary, but he got the HUGE benefit of an AWESOME double play (described below) keeping Michael's ER total and his chance for victory in tact. Then, in the top of the 9th, Brandon came in and CLOSED the door for his second save of the season and Michael's first big league win.
Some video clips of Michael's mound presence...
Shannon got some great sound after the game - as Matt Pittman put it, Michael was "talking through a huge grin"
at the plate
As usual, not a ton of offense...
the Mariners, like the Jays, only had 5 hits but they made the best of them and were FINALLY able to get on the board early in a game - all of their runs came in the 3rd when Ryan singled, Langerhans homered and Wilson scored on Milton's single after getting on base via an error and then stealing second (his third). Lost in the Pineda mania was Romero's great performance - granted, his was vs. M's bats, whereas Michael's was against the 3rd best offense in the league.
of base paths and leather works
Jack notched another SB.
Miguel had an extremely rough night ...
not only did he go 0-4, he was charged with a throwing error and a passed ball.
But, he was also part of a double play that likely saved the game...
After Patterson's two-run single, he stole 2B and took 3B on the afore-mentioned throwing error by Miguel. Bautista was up next and he popped out to the 1B line where Justin made a great catch, turned, planted and threw a one-hop strike to Miguel who met Patterson standing up at the plate .... OUT!!
Michael gets the game ball...
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| from Mariners twitter |
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