A seemingly ominous start for today's Mariner battery...
Felix was touched up from the mound in the early innings and Miggy was roughed up (literally) behind the plate but, they gutted it through together. Felix was rewarded with the win and Miggy was there for him behind the plate and AT the plate (with TWO home runs).
Should you need a reminder of the definitions of ACE...
Look no further than the reigning American League Cy Young, aka: King Felix. The name of the game early on was "damage control", after that it was SHUT.THEM.DOWN. Felix's recovery from the shaky start only served to emphasize how how special he is ~ his stuff and his guts and his smarts are truly second to none.
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Despite walking the second batter in the 1st inning, Felix got off the mound quickly via a double-play. The 2nd inning was quite a different story - even though he only allowed ONE run, it took Felix THIRTY-FIVE pitches to get through it. The the lead-off hitter was aboard in the 3rd via a double and took 3B on an error by Carlos and he eventually scored on a single after Felix got two quick outs.
Over the next FIVE innings, Felix allowed three singles, one double, two walks and only ONE run (in the 8th).
Felix started the 6th having thrown 91 pitches and got a quick pop-up for the first out. Then, on a 3-2 pitch, Brendan lost his footing trying to field the ball right on the cut of the infield grass and was charged with the M's second error of the game. Thankfully, a fly-ball to Carlos doubled the runner off 1B saved the inning for Felix and allowed him to start the 7th in which the lead-off hitter was safe by a WHISKER on a bunt base hit. Said runner was beautifully erased at 2B when Felix fielded the bunt by the next hitter and then a fabulously turned Wilson-to-Ryan-to-Smoak DP enabled Felix to exit the inning with the S L I M one-run lead.
Wedge stuck with his horse and out came Felix for the bottom of the 8th after the M's had added to their lead in the top of the inning. Miggy got his bell rung during the first batter's AB but stayed in the game. The first batter walked and the second singled with Felix at 115 pitches. Felix struck out then next batter (his 6th K) and then induced a flyout. With two outs and runners at the corners, a run scored on a single up the middle. Wedge ran out for a quick chat with Felix and was satisfied with what he heard, as he stayed with his ace (126 pitches at that point) who got a ground ball out on the first pitch.
Brandon had the 9th (despite the non-save situation) and, as easy as pie, retired the side in order: strikeout, groundout, strikeout.
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For the first four innings, it was the same-old, same-old for the O...
Then Miggy's lead-off homer in the 5th ignited a little spark that led to THREE runs and the lead. Figgy walked, stole 2B and scored the tying run on Ichiro's single and Ichiro scored the go-ahead run on Justin's single.
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The the M's were retired fairly meekly over the next couple of innings, Brendan's single in the 7th the only hit. Then came the 8th - with one out, Carlos walked and Greg pinch ran and scored on Miggy's SECOND HOME RUN OF THE GAME! Guti walked but was caught stealing and Figgy struck out.
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Justin added a LOT of insurance with his home run in the 9th that scored Ichiro (who had gotten aboard via his second hit of the game).
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Little stat courtesy of the Tigers broadcasters...
In 61 combined at bats for Justin and Miggy vs. the Tigers they have hit NINE home runs.
Occasionally, I listen to the opposing broadcasters to get their perspective on my team. I really enjoyed listening to the Tigers announcers. Of course, like most, they root for their team, but I was impressed by the copious amounts of information they shared with their audience regarding the Mariners players and their season thus far. They gave just the right amount of reverence to their accomplishments while not totally disparaging them with the less attractive parts of the stat sheet.
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Long Division
The M's are doing a good job vs. the East (11-8) and keeping pace in the West (8-7) but the Central is GIVING. THEM. FITS. Even with the victory today vs. the Tigers, the M's are a paltry 12 - 17 vs. the teams in the middle of the map. Thankfully, there are not many games left with them: one 3-game series with the Tribe and a couple of make up games with them (due to the usual Cleveland rain-outs) and one 3-game series with the Twins.
Wedge Words
"I wanted to look into his eyes and look into Miggy's eyes and see where they were."
"I'm really please with the way these guys played and how they have been battling."
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