Earlier today, it was announced that Alex Liddi was optioned to AAA Tacoma and Justin Smoak was activated from the DL (after a rehab stint with the Rainiers). ‘t was a short trip for Justin to Oakland, as the Rainiers had been in Sacramento.
ON THE MOUND
Really a shame that Jeremy didn’t get the win tonight, after putting up his THIRD straight quality start (allowed just ONE run in his TWO previous starts: a win vs. the Yanks in SIX innings, a ND vs. the ‘stros in EIGHT innings). His final line . . .
SIX innings ~ SIX hits ~ ONE earned run ~ THREE walks ~ ZERO strikeouts
} Ollie in for the 7th . . .
walked the lead batter (Ianetta), got Bourjos to fly out, then a WP advanced the runner to 2B, he then got Trout looking and Hamilton swinging.
} Tom in for the 8th . . .
boom. lead-off homer by Pujols ties the ball game (believe it or not, it was the first homer Tom gave up this season). The good news is he was able to retire the rest in order AND then come back out for the 9th where he gave up a lead-off base hit, a wild pitch and a walk BUT, got Bourjos to strikeout and Trout to fly out. There’s nothing wrong with Tom’s velocity (touched 97-98 a couple times) it’s just a matter of location and confidence and, despite the homer, the fact that he hung in and got some outs after that, is a means toward that end.
} Charlie took over in the 9th with TWO on / TWO out ~ and strikes out Hamilton
} Yoervis in for the 10th . . .
gets Pujols to pop-up behind the plate, Trumbo to strike out and Kendrick to ground out to earn his FIRST career SAVE . . .
He said, “For an inning, I felt like Mariano Rivera.”
AT THE PLATE
~ back-to-back jacks from Rauuuuuuul and Justin on back-to-back pitches in the 2nd gave the M’s a 2-0 lead . . .
Welcome back, Justin! | Stephen Dunn, Getty Images
~ Mike with his FIRST big league double with TWO outs in the 4th (but he was left stranded)
~ Brendan fails to get a bunt down (pop-up) TWICE
~ Kyle hits a TWO-out double in the 10th and scores the go-ahead run via Kendrys FIRST hit of the night (what would end up being his NINTH game-winning hit of the season)!
IN THE FIELD
* THREE double plays turned (4-6-3, 6-4-3, 3-6-1) all off Hamilton’s bat
* Nick with his third stolen base of the season
* beautiful straight at ‘im catch by Endy to end the threat in the 6th with runners at the corners
* Michael S with a nice running catch for the first out in the 8th with a runner on (kept ‘im at 1B)
(on the other side, Bourjos robbed Justin of a sure double and Michael S of a possible homer)
tweets of the game . . .
interesting note of the game . . .
ELEVEN players on the current 25-man roster were NOT on the opening day roster ~ NINE players on the current roster started the season in AAA
Compass Rosy 