g162 | and that's a wrap

Mariners 3 | Athletics 4


And the Athletics finish SECOND in the AL West by earning their FIRST ever FOUR-game sweep of the M's in Seattle.

Ryan looked a bit better...
Hopefully something to build on over the winter - he threw SEVENTY-THREE pitches in FIVE innings giving up TWO earned runs (maybe taken out before the SIXTH after the M's tied it up to ensure he wouldn't take the loss?)

The bullpen was just so-so...
 giving up another couple of runs over the last FOUR innings

The bats had lots of hits...
But only one for extra bases (Ichiro's TWO-run double in the FIFTH)
Nice to see Justin finish on a good note - his RBI single in the EIGHTH gave him a career high TEN-game hitting streak to end the season.

Some photos of the last day and retrospective of the season coming soon...

g146 | Sox complete the sweep

Mariners 1 | Red Sox 5

Back to the same-old, same-old...
Russell's solo shot in the first was one of only six hits and would prove to be the M's only run.
David P performed admirably, allowing only two runs (only one earned) through six innings.
Ryan, on the other hand, had a bit of a struggle - two walks and three earned runs in two innings...

Only two home series left...
I'll be at Friday and Saturday night's games, starting my long goodbye to my "summer home"...

:-(

g101 | ey-yi-yi

Mariners 0 | White Sox 11

Well, let's see...
Brian pitched 3 scoreless innings giving up only one hit and striking out one.
That's about as rosy as I can get.

Hyphen appears to be totally out of whack ... 
has been for quite awhile, not sure of the wisdom in continuing to run him out there.

And the bats?  What bats?
7 hits - none for extra bases

The White Sox certainly have the M's number this season.

g96 | thiiiiiis close

Mariners 6 | Red Sox 8

Crazy one!

Nearly no-hit by Lackey ...
the M's scored a run without the benefit of a hit in the second inning (walk, steal, ground out, passed ball) and continued to go hitless until two outs in the bottom of the 8th when Josh Bard singled but was stranded when Ichi flied out.

Meanwhile, the BoSox were racking up the hits vs. RRS ...
Ryan would go six giving up eight hits and five runs.  Brian would give up one run in his inning of work and the Red Sox would go to the bottom of the ninth up 1-6...

And then it got interesting ...
't was really quite amazing, I'm tired, so I'll take the easy route (courtesy YaHoo!)...

- M. Delcarmen relieved J. Lackey

- C. Figgins singled to left center

- F. Gutierrez homered to deep left, C. Figgins scored

- J. Lopez walked

- M. Bradley safe at first on shortstop M. Scutaro's fielding error, J. Lopez to second

- J. Papelbon relieved M. Delcarmen

- J. Smoak struck out swinging

- C. Kotchman doubled to right, J. Lopez scored, M. Bradley to third

- R. Langerhans ran for C. Kotchman

- J. Bard walked

- M. Saunders ran for J. Bard

- J. Wilson grounded into fielder's choice, M. Bradley scored, R. Langerhans to third, M. Saunders out at second, R. Langerhans scored, J. Wilson to second on second baseman B. Hall's fielding error

- I. Suzuki intentionally walked

- C. Figgins struck out looking

The offense would have their golden opportunity to win it in the 12th ...

Single, single, sac-fly, walk - and then then the balloon burst - foul out, popup

The pen would hang in their for longer than expected ...
Jamey, David and Garrett combined for FIVE innings of NO hit, NO run ball, but Garrett lost the magic in the 13th ... single, out, out, walk, double

And that was all she wrote on a Thursday evening in Fenway Northwest.

By the way, nice catch by Ichi to rob Ortiz of a home run in the first inning....

hoto by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

g91 | spunky and smoakin'

Mariners 6 | Angels 7
Yeah, it was a loss in a lost season but, that made it all the more impressive to see the guys show a little heart to battle back to make it a game and give a glimpse of good things to come in the future.

And how 'bout Mr. Smoak?!?  
A single, a double and 2 RBI to go along with his second homer in as many games (and all from the right side, which is supposedly his weak side)!

MARK J. TERRILL / AP

Ryan, Ryan, Ryan...
I think it would be in his and the team's best interest for him to take a trip down I-5 for a few weeks...

pluses and minuses...
12 hits and 6 runs = good!
3 errors and 3 GDIP = bad

Oh, and welcome to the bigs, Mr. Seddon!
Nice debut for Chris.  He came into the game with runners on the corners and one out and got the M's out of the inning unscathed.  All told, he worked 1.2 innings posting ZERO runs, hits, walks

g88 | of errors and wild pitches and baseballs lost in the sun....

Mariners 2 | Yankees 8

Mulligan for the first inning, please?
U G L Y times in that first frame, and even though only two scored.  Even Wak, in the post game, basically said Ryan was a "victim" of the shoddy defense.  Granted, he had a couple wild pitches and made some other mistakes, but you just have to wonder if Ryan had been able to get out of the first unscathed, if the momentum would have swung differently.

Not much you can do about those ball lost in the sun../
Guess it didn't happen to the Yanks OF'ers cuz CC was getting mostly ground balls (other than Casey's too little too late homer in the 9th).

JOHN FROSCHAUER

There was some super D as well...
Guti made two great catches and Ichi another.
Frustrating to know what they are capable of and not see it consistently.

Yanks take the series and lead the season series 4-3.  M's have one more left - in NY in August.

g83 | offense, where for art thou?

Mariners 2 | Royals 3


the good news ...
~ RRS posts his second quality start vs. a good lineup
~ David Pauley still lookin' good - another scoreless inning
~ two DP's
~ Michael with an outfield assist
~ finally got to ZG after 31 consecutive scoreless innings

the bad news ...
even when the M's get a little something goin', they can't catch a break.
In the 8th, Jack Wilson singled, went to second on an Ichi single, stole third and scored on a Figgy sac fly.  Ichiro was still on 1B (should he have been or was Jack's SB a boo-boo?) so he was unable to score when Russell hit what would be ruled a ground rule double due to fan interference (boo!!!).  Hard to know if Ichi would have scored anyway but, you just never know.

Tip o' the cap to Mr. Grenike.

Here's to sweep avoidance tomorrow...

g73 | road woes...

Mariners 3 | Brewers 8

Well, the first 3 innings were pretty good....
~ the offense with 5 hits - 3 runs - 2 SB
~ and RRS with no hits, no walks

But then came the fourth and it all fell apart.

Let's see what Mister Fister brings tomorrow....

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.

g62-g66 | catchin' up (me on posts, not the M's in the standings ;-(

Mariners 1 | Padres 7

• Cliff was solid
• Offense got plenty of hits, including 3 doubles, but didn't make 'em count
• bullpen was horrid

Mariners 4 | Padres 2

• now THAT was a Happy Felix Day! one out short of a CG
• and the DA gets the one out save
• just enough offense (including a Milton homer)

Mariners 3 | Cardinals 9

• well, started out great with a lead-off homer from Ichiro
• and a Figgy run on a Lopey ground out - 2 runs in the first
• then it went down hill ... pretty fast
• Luke wasn't great and Ian was horrible (and would be DFA's a day later)

Mariners 2 | Cardinals 4

• I thought RRS could have gone a bit longer ... he only had 59 pitches through 4
• Despite giving up the one run, the bullpen was better than it had been
• Solo shots from both Milty and Ryan, but hits with RISP continued to be elusive

Mariners 2 | Cardinals 1

• Back home with a win!
• Jason = AWESOME (11th quality start of the season - in 13 tries)
• I admit I was holding my breath a bit when Brandon came in...
• David did great in the 9th
• This JUST enough "O", STELLAR "P" and DECENT "D" is how the M's should be winning...

Day off at home and in come the Brewers over the weekend and the Cubbies next week!

g60 | time to get the heck outta texas

Mariners 3 | Rangers 12

AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

I didn't see any of the game, but when I heard that 8 of the 12 runs were UNearned ... well needless to say I was glad I hadn't seen it.  It's one thing for a pitcher to have a bad game (heaven know, even Felix has those) and we've seen the bullpen blow leads and the offense struggle to provide enough run support when the pitching is good.  But.... NO excuse for sloppy baseball and there has been ENTIRELY too much of it from the boys in navy and teal of late.

g55 | pleasant surprise through 5 - nightmare 6th and 7th

Mariners 2 | Angels 11

And here I was worried about RRS getting the start instead of Mister Fister...
Ryan actually threw out his best performance of the season so far - the bullpen?  Not so much.

Apparently, teal did not agree with Shawn, in particular - he gave up 4 walks, 3 runs and hit a batter in his 1/3 of an inning.  He certainly looked out of character today, considering his last 8+ innings of work he had walked only two and given up only one earned run...

AP photo/Ted S. Warren

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!!!

g38 | too little, too late (in so many ways)

Mariners 4 | Athletics 8


OK, so if RRS was going to cough up another one, BIG time, why couldn't they have scratched out those runs in two of the other games this road trip? Coulda won both of the previous series.  Guess it doesn't work that way....

What to do with RRS?

What to do with the bats, or lack thereof.

There's bound to be a breakout at some point ...
tomorrow is as good a day as any ~ Felix Day!
(here's to a game that lives up to it's namesake)

p.s.  I shouldn't ignore Tui's first homer (even though it was "aided" a bit by Davis's glove) and Lopey's 3RBI - baby steps...

g33 | oh to the O's

Mariners 2 | Orioles 5

Another rough (and short) outing for RRS . . . gotta get him fixed, fast.

Interesting lineup . . .
Guti out with a sore back, Ryan in CF, Tui is back in place of DL'd Jack (and thrown immediately to the hot corner) and Jose at DH
. . . with uninteresting results

Morning game tomorrow - time to take the series.
Long past time for Felix to shine and the bats to wake up.

Road Reflections | CHI, KC

Chicago was about as bad as it gets...
Three games, three heart-breaking losses, all by one-run (in fact, all but one of the games on this road trip were decided by one run, and that one by two).  To twist the knife a bit more, two were walk-offs and one was in the 8th.  RRS continued to struggle, Doug and Jason continued to shine.  While the bullpen's lapse was a bit concerning, the late surge by the offense in two of the three games was encouraging.  As for the "D", despite a couple of errors, there were five DP's turned.

Back on track in KC...
Felix took his first loss, but still put up a quality start (maybe not to "Felix quality", but quality nonetheless).  Ian's line wasn't great, but the way in which he was able to escape self-induced trouble was pretty impressive.  RRS was on his way to a solid start, looking good for five innings, but couldn't finish things in the 6th - apparently, April is not his month.  As for the rest of the pitching staff, right back up on that horse, er,  mound they got.  The pen as a whole pen recovered pretty darn well from their debacle on the South Side - pitching 8 scoreless innings in KC and the DA notched two more saves (of the one-run variety).  The offense, while certainly far from potent, showed a little spunk, especially in the last game, bunching some runs to go ahead early, losing the lead and then scratching out a run late to win.

Regarding Jose...
Something occurred to me the other day.  Many are concerned, understandably so, about the offense and there's already be quite a lot of mention about Jose ... his lack of patience, etc. This is nothing new and he's typically a slow starter.  The thing that struck me was the lack of concern about something that many had a fair amount of trepidation about going into the season... how would he perform at his new position?  Well, so far, question answered - in spades!  He has not only performed adequately, he has embraced the change and seems very comfortable in his new home at the hot corner.  Considering the shoes he had to fill, this is excellent, if seldom mentioned, news.

Milty = Mr Happy...
Some good signs from MB ... he was out of commission in Chicago, but back in action in KC and contributing.  Some nice gestures with the fans as well - like when he tried to toss a ball to a Mariner fan above the M's dugout in KC, but a Royals fan interviened and caught the ball - he went into the dugout, got another ball and personally handed it to the fan.  Love it.

g22 | back to .500 and goin' home

Mariners 6 | Royals 5

A road series win!
While it's an early novelty, here's hoping it becomes boringly familiar ;-)

Ed Zurga   AP Photo

Gotta be some concern re: RRS ...
Other than the lead-off homer, he looked great through five but the wheels came off in the 6th - single, HBP, wild pitch, walk, single, triple - and just like that, tie ball game.

But let's focus on the positive, shall we?

Ichi-Fig was alive and well in KC!  5 hits, 3 rbi, 1 run, 1 walk, 1 stolen base

the bottom third of the order was responsible for 2 runs 2 rbi and a walk

MS and MB contributing in most of the O columns as well

and while not a single homer was hit there were 4 doubles and a triple

bullpen proves resilient after the nightmare that was Chicago

And then there is the "D"...

two more DP's

a great pirouetting play by J-Dub, complete with description by Mr. Neihaus that involved the word "tu-tu"

Day off at home tomorrow and then, on Friday, the night we've been waiting for since last winter...
Mr. Lee taking the mound at Safeco Field for your Seattle Mariners!

g18 | seriously?

Mariners 4 | White Sox 5
Talk about walk-off road woes :-(

• Yesterday it was a matter of mediocre starting pitching and some great, clutch hitting and then a mistake pitch from the pen ~ Mark 
• Today it was a matter of great starting pitching and just enough hitting and then two (or three!) mistake pitches from the pen ~ David

so, "from the pen" seems to be the common denominator... 
Early on, seemed like they were over-used, as the starters just weren't quite stretched out yet.  Lately, seems like they may be suffering from a bit of rust now that the starters are going long.  Also, there has been a bit of flux in the roles ... maybe not quite fully defined yet.  I'm thinking this is the sort of thing that a little time and "Wetteland wonder" will take care of.

definitely not time to panic yet....
The bats have finally started to come alive, the "D" is still looking awesome and, for the most part, the starting pitching has been great of late.  I am a little concerned about RRS but, apparently he and Wak had a sit-down today - here's hoping it will have the same effect on him as it did on Felix last May.

Go, Jason!  Go, bats!
Let's see you avoid spittin' bristles on the south side....

g17 | dem's the breaks ...

Mariners 6 | White Sox 7
buuuummm-er!

RRS definitely didn't have it tonight and unfortunately, the defense didn't help him much.  There was the excitement of Lopey's first home run of the season that, oh by the way, was also the first grand slam of his career - off old buddy, old pal J.J.  That made the score 6-5 in the 7th.  The ChiSox would tie it up in the bottom of the inning and tied it would stay ... until the bottom of the 9th with 2 out and a pitch that no doubt Mr. Lowe would like to take back - to Andrew Jones (his second of a game that saw 5 homers).

Here's hoping the bats can pick up where they left off today and Mister Fister can continue his dominant ways to help the M's avoid back-to-back losses (last time 11th and 12th).

Oh, and here's to J-Dub getting well soon ....
injured thumb in the 3rd inning and was replaced by Tui - supposedly not broken, but likely day-to-day.

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...