Prior to the game today, it was “officially” announced” (though there were hints last night) that Carter Capps and Erasmo Ramirez had switched places, Carter being optioned to AAA Tacoma and Erasmo being recalled to where pre-season injury prevented him from starting. Obviously, the M’s could really use a “shot in the arms” . . . as Felix and Iwakuma, despite their All Star status, have proved to be human of late AND we already knew that Jeremy wouldn’t last long (and now he’s gone) AND then there’s Aaron, the epitome of inconsistency. Hopefully, young Erasmo will become a stabilizing force, he took a couple of steps forward today but, a few more back, so . . . to be continued.
ON THE MOUND
Erasmo was welcomed back to the big leagues on the third pitch he threw when Ellsbury launched one into the seats and gave the RS an early 1-0 lead. Erasmo then settled down and retired 11 of the next 15. The good news is, that he didn’t give up a hit in that span. The bad news is, that he walked FOUR and hit a batter AND, when the hits started coming, they came swiftly and productively – THREE RBI singles in-a-row to get the RS within ONE in the 4th (5-4). Erasmo would not make it out of the 5th, giving up THREE more runs (ONE on his own, TWO via Charlie) . . .
4.2 innings ~ SIX hits ~ SEVEN earned runs ~ FOUR walks ~ FOUR strikeouts
} Charlie, as mentioned, gave up TWO inherited runners in the 5th but then retired 7 of the next 8 without any more damage through the 7th
} Ollie struck out the side in the 8th and allowed a walk with TWO outs in the 9th
} Tom stranding the inherited runner via a strikeout for the third out in the 9th. But then, in the 10th, once again, “oh, those base on balls“. Tom walked the lead off batter and, with TWO outs allowed what would be the eventual winning run to score (according to various tweets, Tom apparently a l m o s t snared the ball for the 3rd out).
AT THE PLATE
~ Love the TWELVE hits . . .
including another Brad double and a Kyle homer that not only extended his personal hitting streak to 11 games but, also extended the M’s homer streak to 19 (tying the franchise record) AND the 5 for 12 w/RISP
~ It was great to see a 5-1 lead. Not so great to see that same lead lost for the second time in as many days
~ Apparently, Raul missed his 23rd homer by t h i s much AND Brad got a bad bounce on a GRD that could have been an RBI but, almost only counts in horseshoes, as they say.
Kyle’s streak extender | Stephen Brashear, Getty Images
IN THE FIELD
* No Mariners DP’s turned (but TWO turned against them)
* Endy stole a base
* The RS made TWO errors
tweets of the game . . .
great interview with Brad (aka: Crazy Legs) Miller
Compass Rosy 