After a long and excruciating 8-19 month of May, the Seattle Mariners have a 1.000 win percentage after the first night of June achieving a 7-1 win over the streaking Minnesota Twins on Tuesday. Almost out of nowhere, the M’s compiled a total of 13 hits up and down the batting order (the only one left without a hit was LF Michael Saunders).
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Crafty lefty Jason Vargas earned his first win in four decisions, and maintained his streak of consecutive quality starts, especially at home. After the first two innings, and throwing an insurmountable 46 pitches, it appeared that Vargas wouldn’t last past the fourth inning. Composure settled in and Vargas cruised after the second, finishing the night with 7.0 IP and allowing 1 ER off of 6 hits, dropping his ERA to 2.92 (8th in the American League).
The bullpen was nearly perfect after Vargas exited in the 8th, with an inning each provided by Shawn Kelley and Garret Olson. After being called up from AAA Tacoma earlier that afternoon, Olson made his 2010 Major League debut entering the 9th inning with a 7-1 lead. He threw only twelve pitches, eight of which found the strike-zone.
3B Jose Lopez went 2-4, hitting a home-run (3) in the 4th off of Minnesota’s Nick Blackburn. Ichiro earned the game-ball, however, after going 3-5 and scoring the game’s first run in the bottom of the 1st, setting the tone for the remainder of the game. The rest of the M’s lineup booted Blackburn after 3.2 innings and 5 ER off of 10 hits.
The Mariners hope to keep their offensive prowess afloat as they enter the third of this four-game series against the Twins. LHP Cliff Lee (3-2, 3.22) is set to lead the M’s as he faces off against Minnesota’s Kevin Slowey (6-3, 4.15). First pitch is scheduled for 7:10pm local time at the Safe.
Reach Jacob Kehle at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
