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

g31 | exhaaaaaaaaale!

Mariners 8 | Angels 1
And, a Happy Mother's Day it was!

AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey

Especially for Michael Saunders mom . . .

"Getting one today was really special, with my mom in the stands," Saunders said. "She's been through a lot for the last 11-12 years, battling cancer and everything. So not only was it special for me to hit a home run, it was more special that she was here to see it."  Jane Saunders has been battling various forms of cancer since Michael was 11. She's had four different stints with the disease, which recently returned again.

on the mound
Jason was great again - through seven, he  gave up only four hits, walked on and struck out four.  The lone earned run he allowed came after he walked the lead-off batter in the eighth and Brandon came in and struck out the next batter, suffered an error behind him and then threw a wild pitch.  Shawn pitched a scoreless ninth.

at the plate
wow - 12 HITS!  2 doubles, 1 triple and 2 home runs! (not to mention 4 stolen bases - 2 of which scored).  And, the most important thing .... more runs than the other team
Whodathunk that when the M's finally hit back-to-back home runs, it would be Josh Wilson and Michael Saunders?!?  The M's needed a spark in the worst way and they finally got it.  Now, here's hoping they can keep that spark stoked on the off-day travel to Baltimore.

If there was a negative about the game, it was that the M's could have easily had 3 more runs - two runners were thrown out at the plate and one was picked off 3B (with one out).

leather-works
Despite the Josh's error and Adam's passed ball, the "D" overall has looked MUCH better the past couple of games.  They even managed a double-play yesterday.

Meanwhile, Alan Cockrell is the scapegoat for M's quiet bats.

In other news, Congrats to Dallas Braden!
Perfect game vs. the Rays - wow.  Guess he can answer A-Rod's question about "what has he done..." now with - "something only 19 players in HISTORY have done".

Byrnsey and the rest....

Eric Byrnes ~ here's to his health!

Now, Byrnes said, "My legs are as healthy as they've ever been. I'm excited to put together a full season and help the Mariners win a lot of games."

The right-handed hitter will battle for playing time in left field. He said he's content to accept a platoon role.

"Speaking to Jack, the role wasn't necessarily specified, other than the fact he believed I would contribute," Byrnes said. "That's all I needed to hear. I'm healthy for the first time in two years. I just needed a team to believe in me half as much as I believe in myself. Speaking to Jack, that's what I felt."

In a news release, Zduriencik said of the signing, "We think Eric is a great fit for our team. He is a high-energy player with a veteran presence. We look forward to him competing for a spot on our roster when spring training starts."

Brad Nelson ~ 1B/OF

Chris Woodward ~ utility

Josh Bard ~ catcher, Chad Cordero ~ pitcher

Ryan Langerhans

Josh Wilson ~ infielder

Corey Patterson ~ outfielder