and, the FIRST Major League victory for Tyler Olson!

Mariners 5 | Athletics 4 (in 11)

Talk about opposite expectations!

Whodathunk that Taijuan Walker would allow NINE runs in his first start of 2015 and the M’s first road victory would come via a J.A. Happ start?!?! Guess it goes to show that Spring Training stats aren’t necessarily reflective of the real season (granted, likely most stats in the REAL season after only FIVE games aren’t necessarily reflective of the entire season). But, we’ll take the wins any way we can get ’em!

ON the MOUND
Welcome to the Mariners, Mr. Happ!
J.A. retired the A’s 1-2-3 in the 1st, allowed three singles in the 2nd but, was able to escape a bases-loaded jam without damage, then proceeded to retire THIRTEEN A’s in-a-row before allowing TWO runs on FOUR singles and a sac-bunt in the 7th. His final line . . .
SIX.ONE innings ~ SEVEN hits ~ TWO earned runs ~ ZERO walks ~ TWO strikeouts 
I do believe we’ll take THAT from HIM every time 🙂

} Danny allowed ONE (inherited runner) run on a single in the 7th and another on a double in the 8th
} Carson allowed an inherited (Danny) run to score but, preserved his 0.00 ERA by striking out THREE in his ONE.TWO innings of work
} Tyler allowed a couple hits AND a couple walks but, also preserved his 0.00 ERA and, as mentioned, picked up the W
} Without any drama what-so-ever, Nando picked up his second SAVE with a 1-2-3 11th

AT the PLATE
All the starters, except Robbie and Jesus, had at least ONE hit . . .
~ Ack hit his second homer of the season
~ Nelson had THREE hits including his first homer as a Mariner (a THREE-run bomb that came after Lloyd won a challenge on the previous play that left TWO runners on as opposed to only one at 1st as originally called)
~ Crazy Legs hit the winning RBI double (after LoMo’s single and Ack’s sac bunt)

IN the FIELD
The play of the game was in the 10th inning . . .
With ONE out, runners at 2B and 3B, Austin plays a high hop off the wall ~barehanded~ and fires a low but accurate throw to the cut-off man (Brad). Then Crazy Legs makes a great throw home to Zu who tags out the (would-be) winning run.

tweets of the game . . .