g75 | spittin' bristles in the nation's capital

Mariners 0 | Nationals 1

I didn't see or hear any part of this one but, according to the box score...

Michael was his usual stellar self ~ 97 pitches - 7 innings - 0 earned runs - 1 walk - 9 strikeouts
but, NOT as usual, he collected his FIRST major league hit in his SECOND major league at bat that just happened to break up the Nat's Marquis's no-hitter in the 6th

Getty Images

~ Ichiro extended his hitting streak to ELEVEN games

~ Guti made a throw to Miggy to nail a runner at the plate

~ Justin had the other two hits and a walk but, also an error

~ Dustin had his first walk but, also his first game without a hit

But, the long and short of it is that the M's were swept outta the capital by the Nats...
in THREE one-run losses in which the starting rotation gave up exactly ONE earned run.

Here's hoping they put this series behind them and fast, so as not to drop below .500
The Fish come to Seattle to play a "home" series next - time to gain some ground!

g74 | #WhatMoreDoTheStartersHaveToDo

Mariners 1 | Nationals 2

Erik's greatness was all for naught...
How often does a starter go SIX innings with only 87 pitches, NO earned runs and TEN strikeouts ...and get tagged with the loss?

In the past FIVE games, the M's rotation has combined for...
36 innings - 5 earned runs - 29 strikeouts and have only TWO wins to show for it.

Really sucks that the runs were unearned...
no excuse for bad defense.

Course, the offense wasn't much help either, but...
-Ichiro extended his hitting streak to TEN games
-Dustin didn't start, but added a pinch hit single to extend to the growing list of his early accomplishments, which also includes a FIVE game hitting streak to start his career

Gotta take the get-away game and come home on a good note for the "away" series with The Fish!