g18 | Mr Fister gets some run support!

Mariners 13 | Tigers 3

AP Photo

On a night when the team plays with a heavy heart in support of teammate Justin Smoak....
Prior to the game, Justin was placed on the bereavement list in order to fly home to North Carolina and be with his family as his father was gravely ill (diagnosed with lung cancer several months ago).  Unfortunately, late in the game, we found out that his father had indeed passed away.

on the mound
Mr. Fister was cool as a cucumber (110P - 6.1 IP - 6H - 2ER - 2BB - 7K), the bats were smokin' hot and the combination added up to VICTORY (for pitcher and team)!
By the way, the M's scored exactly ONE run in each of Doug's previous THREE starts

Jamie Wright entered the game in the 7th inning...
with the bases loaded and one out.  He threw ONE pitch and got EXACTLY what he wanted ....
a 4-6-3 double play.

Aaron Laffey had mop up duty...
He allowed a run on four hits and a couple of walks but, considering the score was 11-2 at the point he entered the game, that was focused enough.

at the plate
Where to begin?!?
Every starter but two (Jack and Brendon) had as least ONE hit...

• the hitless (Jack and Brendon) = 1R - 1RBI - 4BB
• Ichi-Fig = 7H - 6R - 5RBI - 2BB
• 3-4-5 (Bradley-Cust-Olivo) = 3H - 2R - 4RBI - 3BB
• 8-9 (Gimenez, Saunders) = 5H - 4R - 2RBI - 2BB

No homers but another ELEVEN WALKS...
M's lead the majors with 79 (next closest, Boston with 67 - league average is 52)

of base paths and leather works

• THREE double-plays (vs. NONE hit into)
• THREE stolen bases (Ichi 2, Figgy 1)

Gotta love Brendon Ryan ... 
he was absolutely giddy in his interview after the game [paraphrased]  "Nice to play with a lead for a change.  Have we scored in the first inning yet?  How many'd we get. 2?  4!?!  Love Fisty's intensity, his passion and energy, love playing behind him.  He's always picking you up in the dugout, whether he's pitching or not."
As for not getting one of the 15 hits ...
'Well, I sped up the game, gotta move it along.'

;-)