Game 1: Down 7-0 in the bottom of the 7th inning, I expected the Mariners to quit. C’mon guys, just strike out a couple times so I can go to bed.
Luckily, Milton Bradley didn’t listen to me.
To Continue...
Milton jacked a solo home run into the right field seats. Alright, so maybe I’ll stay up to see what we can do in the last couple innings. But really, I didn’t honestly expect the run deficient Mariners to score 7 more runs and come back for the win.
I just needed to shut up. The Mariners loaded the bases in the 8th inning, still down 7-1. The Jays’ bullpen then proceeded to implode as they walked Luis Rodriguez, Milton Bradley, and Jack Cust – all with one out - to shrink their lead to 7-4. And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, Justin Smoak hit a single to left field, driving in Rodriguez and Bradley. The rally appeared to end on the next play however, as Miguel Olivo killed the inning by grounding into a double play.
After Josh Lueke pitched a solid 9th inning only using 12 pitches, the Mariners had one final shot to complete one of the best rallies in recent memory. Michael Saunders started it off well by slamming a double down the left field line, and after a sacrifice bunt by Brendan Ryan, advanced to third.
Adam Kennedy grounded out.
Ichiro intentionally walked.
Luis Rodriguez, with two outs, having fouled off seemingly hundreds of pitches, does this.
Mariners, 8-7
Game 2: If you haven’t seen wonder boy Michael Pineda pitch yet, you’re missing out. The rookie, in just his second major league start, kept the Jays off balanced by pitching 7 1/3 innings while only giving up 5 hits to go along with 7 strikeouts.
The Mariners actually backed up their pitcher this time! Ryan Langerhans drilled his third homer of the year – with Brendan Ryan on base – in the third inning.
Mariners, 3-2
Game 3: Well, the magic had to end sometime. After a solid pitching performance by Jason Vargas (6 2/3 IP, 7 SO, 1 run) and Justin Smoak’s first home run of the season, the M’s bullpen had a meltdown. In the 8th inning, with the Mariners up 2-1, Chris Ray gave up a 3-run homer to 2010 HR leader Jose Bautista. That was only the start of it, as the Jays sent 11 men to the plate to eventually put them up 7-2.
Unfortunately, the late inning magic wasn’t there, as the Mariners only gained one additional one in the 8th inning.
Jays, 8-3
Stud Mariners performances: Game 1, Justin Smoak (2 hits, 2 walks, 2 RBIs,)
Game 2, Michael Pineda (7 1/3 IP, 7 SO, 1 ER)
Game 3, Jason Vargas (6 2/3 IP, 7 SO, 1 ER)
Here's the series stats...
Seattle | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | LOB | AVG |
Suzuki, I, RF | 13 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | .230 |
Rodriguez L , 3B | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | .111 |
Bradley, LF | 12 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | .333 |
Cust, DH | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | .142 |
Smoak, 1B | 9 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 | .444 |
Olivo, C | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 12 | .000 |
Langerhans, CF | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | .444 |
Ryan, Br, SS | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | .222 |
Wilson, Ja, 2B | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | .000 |
Home runs: Langerhans (1), Smoak (1), Bradley, (1)
Stolen bases: Ichiro (1), Wilson (1), Saunders (1), Ryan (1)
Reach Nathan Parsons at nathanparsons98@yahoo.com