g99 | splittin' in Seattle

Mariners 4 | Red Sox 2

From "the Friday Fracas" to 2 wins-in-a-row ...
This was definitely a fun one to be at and the Chamber of Commerce weather had a lot to do with it (it's days like these I canNOT imagine living anywhere else!).  We had to wait a bit for the fun on the field, as the guys had plenty of chances early but Matsuzaka kept wigglin' off the hook.  When they finally did break out in the 8th inning it wasn't your typical barrage - singles (Jose, Michael, Justin), bunt singles (Casey and Milton) and even a butcher boy (Jack) - but when the inning was over, they had three more runs to add to the one they had scored in the 3rd.

TED S. WARREN / AP

On the mound ...
Doug wasn't super sharp and only went five innings, but all-in-all showed some signs of improvement - efficient early on and only walked one.  The BP was great (as it has been nearly all home stand).  Chris is impressing early, Brandon got the win even though he only faced one batter (struck out Youkilis for the third out in the 8th) and David notched his 18th save.

Seems most would have been happy with a split vs. the BoSox ...

But then you think about how close it came to a sweep - that first game where the M's came back from 1-6 down to tie it in the 9th (as disappointing as that game was in the end, I still found more to be ENcouraged about than DIS couraged) and then the next game to lose 2-1.

Woulda, coulda, shoulda.

On to the south side...

g82 | bullpen is a royal pain

Mariners 4 | Royals 6

Unfortunately, I didn't get to see Felix, I only saw the bad parts ....

He threw way too many pitches (113) but, still managed to leave after the 7th with a 4-1 lead, thanks to a Figgy rbi single and a Russell 2-run homer that broke a 1-1 tie in the 5th.   KC got another off Felix in the 6th to make it 4-2, which would be the score going into the 8th when Brandon surrendered 2 runs and the offense came up empty, failing to score with runners at 2nd and 3rd with NO outs - they would eventually leave the bases loaded....argh!  The ninth passed fairly quickly, with David getting through unscathed, but the bats remaining silent.  Then came the 10th where it ended ... Chad gave up 2 runs off the bats of former M's Yuni and Scotty P, and that was all she wrote.

Poor Felix.

JOHN LOK / THE SEATTLE TIMES

g69 | sWeeP!!!

Mariners 1 | Reds 0


Pitching...
Nice to see RRS finally pitch as expected and be rewarded with a victory.

Pitching...
What an AMAZING job by Brandon!  To come in with 2 on on and NO outs and get through the inning unscathed = super!  And, to turn in a defensive gem in a critical juncture = super duper!
(I  admit - I was nervous about the BP - worried that they would be rested to the point of rusted - so glad I was wrong)

And more pitching...
The DA slams the case closed!

and JUST enough offense....
The lonely run after Figgy singled, got to 3B on a Lopey base hit and then home on a Guti sac fly.

Just as it was scripted in the off-season.  
Unfortunately not the way it has gone for the majority of the real season.   The last four games have shown they are capable ... let's see if they can find a way to keep it up.

g61 | I'm thinking there are no hearts left to break

Mariners 3 | Padres 4

~ Jason leaves with a lead after logging yet another quality start
~ Shawn and Brandon each pitch one scoreless inning
~ Josh and Milton each go 3 for 3
~ Milton's solo shot in the 6th puts the M's ahead by one
~ BUT, the ability to add on is denied in the 8th, despite a runner on 3rd with only one out
~ AND the DA is unable to prevent
~ 9th walk-off loss this season

The Cavalry to the rescue... Mr Lee takes the mound tomorrow.

g46 | eighth inning magic

Mariners 5 | Tigers 4

Wow - a sweep of the Tiggers!
OK, 't was only a two game series - but considering it's the first series win since the end of April when they took 2-3 from the Royals, I think they'll take it.

Jason wasn't terribly sharp but was able to get through five only allowing 2 runs.  RRS and Brandon didn't do so quite so well and weren't helped at all by the defense (something that is increasingly disturbing).  But, thanks to some eighth inning offensive magic (what? is this the M's?) from a Guti single, a Mike homer, a Lopey single, a Rob double and a Josh single that equated to 4 runs and then throw in a 1-2-3 ninth by the DA ... it didn't matter in the end.

Certainly hoping this offensive spark and the good feeling of two wins vs a good team will carry over to the weekend in the land of Disney....
where there will be both a Happy Felix Day and a Happy Cliff Day :-)

I'll have to miss all the games, as I'm headed to Austin, Texas in the morning for the long weekend to visit my daughter who just moved there.

Go Mariners!!!

g32 | nap-gate, schmap-gate - they got a win!

Mariners 5 | Orioles 1
Seems the topic of the day was much ado about nothing.
Now, on to baseball - and another win!

AP

The east coast timing sucks, as the game's just getting over as I get home from work (plus, we had a family dinner tonight, so didn't get to hear the post game show) so all I've got to go by is the box score but ... it looks pretty darned good!

• Double digit hits (including two doubles and a homer!)  
• Figgy had an error - but he also had a hit (and an RBI walk) and was involved in two DP's!
• Cliff was Cliff and finally got his first win!
• Brandon was great in relief

The "new guys" seem to be providing a much needed spark.  
In the past two games, Ryan, Josh and Michael have combined for . . .
3homers, 1triple, 1double, 9hits, 7rbi, 8runs and 3walks

g19 | bristles on the south side it is...

Mariners 2 | White Sox 3
Holy Moly!  Another great start spoiled by the bullpen.  And some thought (maybe me included) that it was going to be the bullpen bailing out the starters not named Felix.  Three games, three one-run losses .... what happened to those guys who racked up all those one-run victories last season?

Kudos to Jason.  Another stellar start, made even more impressive by how he was able to overcome early struggles - he threw a ton of pitches and yielded a run in the first, but settled down and almost got through the 7th (you could tell he was peeved having to come out of the game).  Sean was able to get the last out of the 7th, but Brandon gave up homer to Konerko (his 3rd of the series) in the 8th.  And, despite the M's getting two on, with two out in the top of the 9th, that homer would prove to be the game winner.

Thank goodness they are gettin' the heck out of Chicago....

On to KC ... and Felix Day tomorrow!

oh  by the way - nice rehab start for Cliff down in Tacoma

6IP - 3H - 0BB - 0ER - 4K

Can't wait for Friday night at The Safe, when Mr. Lee makes his Mariner debut (I'll be there in the Terrace Club!)

g12 | so glad we have a roof at our disposal...

courtesy Compass Rosy's PalmPrePlus

Mariners 4 | Tigers 2
While last night was GREAT (let's face it, scoring 11 runs is always a good thing) tonight was really more like we expected the M's to win - with SOLID pitching, SPARKLING defense, SPEEDY running and (it wrecks the alliteration, but) TIMELY hitting.

on the hill
~ RRS only allowed 4 hits thru 6 (the 3 walks were a little disappointing, but an improvement).  He gave up a solo shot to Magglio (who hasn't done that?) and the lead off double he allowed before leaving the game in the 7th came around to score.
~ Brandon allowed that inherited runner so score, yet he would get the eventual win ... something wrong with this picture...
~ Mark wasn't super sharp, allowing a run and a walk, but escaped unscathed via the DP
~ David with another 1-2-3 save (we could get used to this!)

at the plate and around the bases
~ Ichi-Fig = 3 hits - 3 runs - 1 walk - 1 rbi - 2 sb
~ Guti still smokin' hot with another 2 hits and 2 rbi (including an insurance run in the 8th)
~ Milty contributing with a run, a walk and a stolen base
~ Casey with a double for the go-ahead rbi in the 7th (though he was out attempting 3rd)

leather-works
~ Jose is looking more and more at home over at the hot corner and Casey's a truly great first-bagger - case in point?  The aforementioned DP (Jose to Figgy to Casey) to end the 8th.
~ Oh yeah, and that Area 51 guy ain't too shabby either
~ And what about Milty?  He made a couple of very nice catches in left

shhhh.... I think I hear bristles rustling...

g10 | series win!!!

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

Mariners 4 | Athletics 2

Finally!

2 wins in a row AND a series win!
Nice for the boys to go into the off day at home on a good note.

on the hill
Another solid start by a BoR guy - gotta love it.  Way to go Jason!
6IP - 5H - 2ER - 6K - and our favorite (for the second night in a row, I might add) ZERO walks!
And, how 'bout Brandon League?  2 scoreless/hitless innings tonight (heck of a lot better than "the other Brandon") and, the DA a rare 1-2-3

at the plate
Hits all up and down the lineup (including Adam's first two hits of the season) and RBI's all in the middle (all with 2-outs!).  Only one extra base hit (Jose's double) and a few too many left on base - but hey, it was enough and looks to be headed in the right direction.

leather-works
Jose is looking comfortable at 3rd ... very nice snare of a hot shot and another cool bare-handed throw of a slow roller.  Adrian would be proud.

We'll let Wak deal with the base-running faux pas....

Catch as catch can...

Ross D. Franklin / AssociatedPress

All the talk from Thursday was how Adam Moore is impressing - which is a good thing.  Especially considering that Rob Johnson is easing into the season slowly after his three off-season surgeries.  I'm in total agreement with the old mantra, "You can never have too much pitching."  and it would seem to me that having back-stop(s) that know and can handle each and every pitcher on the staff is pretty darned important.

A long shot to make the M's BP, due to his Rule 5 draft status, Kanekoa Texeira would rather stay with Seattle than go back to NY...

But Texeira wants to stay.

"I like this group of guys and the staff is nice, too," he said. "I would rather stay here. I have made some good friends and would see them later on. To stay here would be awesome, but that's out of my hands.

Nice little write up from the AP on the "decorated" Brandon League..

"But if I go back [to the Yankees], I would have to shave and cut my hair."

As busy as I've been with work lately, it has been EXTRA frustrating to not be able to listen to the ST games.  The good news is - 20 out of the final 22 games WILL be on the radio - YAY!!

Oh, saw a quote from Giants manager Bruce Bochy where he referred to Ichrio and Chone Figgins as "gnats".  I think they are a new kind of insect ...

the "Ichi-Fig"