Monday, May 23, 2011

MARINERS: Refusing to lose

Carlos Peguero
Down 7-4 in the top of the eighth inning, the Mariners had six more outs to attempt a comeback. It was over, you thought. The Mariners don’t have the resolve and grit to defy the odds and muster up 4 runs in two innings.

Whatever, says the 2011 Mariners.

A couple singles by Brendan Ryan and Adam Kennedy, an error by the Minnesota Twins, and an Ichiro RBI groundout cut the Minnesota’s lead to 6-7 going into the bottom of the 8th. And after a solid 1-2-3 inning by Chris Ray, the Mariners had one last opportunity to tie up the game in the top of the 9th.

To Continue...

Justin Smoak started off the inning with a single. Michael Saunders subbed in as a pinch runner for Smoak.

Saunders stole second, but was almost stranded there as Franklin Gutierrez grounded out and Jack Cust struck out. With two outs bearing down on him, it was up to minor league call up Carlos Peguero to drive home Saunders to send the game into extra innings.

On a 1-0 count, Peguero found a gap between the first baseman and shortstop to bring home Saunders. And after a tense bottom of the 9th pitched by Jamey Wright, the game went into the 10th.

Jack Wilson and Miguel Olivo smacked two singles to start the inning, and after a sacrifice bunt by Ichiro and an intentional walk for Chone Figgins, the bases were loaded with one out.

Luis Rodriguez stepped up to the plate, already having hit a game winner in April. One sacrifice fly is all the M’s needed for the win.

Luis came through. He hit a fly ball to deep center field, which Jack Wilson used tag up and sprint into home. And after all this, Brandon League threw a calm 7-pitch bottom of the 10th to clinch the 8-7 win for the Mariners.

The Mariners are 19-13 (.594) over their last 32 games and currently on a 6-game winning streak.

Sodo Mojo. Refuse to lose.

Why not believe?

Reach Nathan Parsons at nathanparsons98@yahoo.com