ON the MOUND
And Yusei makes it THREE starters in-a-row to record zero run start . . . unfortunately, he gets a no decision in his best ever start…
6 IP – 3 H – 0 ER, 9 SO 1 BB
Margevicius with the blown save in the 7th
AT the PLATE
IN the FIELD and ON the BASES
The Mariners Home Opener wouldn’t be the same without the “Make-a-Wish” kid to run around the bases ❤ and, bless her heart, she did it in an empty stadium – just Lily and the Moose . . .
ON the MOUND
Welcome back to Seattle, Taijuan!
He followed up Marcos great start w/one of his own and together they threw back-to-back starts w/zero ER’s. Krueger noted on the postgame that SEVEN of his EIGHT strikeouts were via the slider.
AT the PLATE
IN the FIELD and ON the BASES
No errors, no DP’s, no SB’s
Kikuchi’s late start continues . . .
but, he ends up with decent numbers in his first loss (6IP ~ 5H ~ 3ER ~ 3 BB ~ 5 K)
the ‘pen did no favors (also allowing THREE runs)
K’s a plenty but, O looking up a bit . . .
a tale of fielding . . .
After the M’s get to within ONE (via back-to-back jacks from Edwin and Omar) a fabulous catch by Allen robs Ryon in the bottom of the 8th
Then flubby fielding in the top of the 9th gets the Tribe back up by TWO to stay (you don’t want to see it and I don’t want to dwell on it but, they have GOT to address this – soon).
Let’s start fresh tomorrow . . .
felt more like a giant wave than the bristles of a broom 😨
Turns out the sweep clinching solo shot was the run that gave Brandon Brennan an ERA 😟
ON the MOUND
It would have been nice to see Marco go a little longer than 5.1 IP but, 5H ~ 2ER ~ 2BB ~ 3K isn’t too bad, given the level of competition.
But for that pesky, aforementioned homer, the bullpen performed admirably – combining for: 3.2 IP ~ 2H ~ 1ER ~ 1BB ~ 4K
AT the PLATE
clearly, ‘t was the M’s batters that were the issue . . .
another FIFTEEN K’s (but 11 of them were via Cole who’s averaged 8.3 per start so far, so there’s that)
and only FOUR hits!
but what REALLY stands out is . . .
But hey, thanks (AGAIN) to Mitch – the streak is still alive . . .
Now, here comes the Tribe.
I can hear it now . . .
back to the same ol’ M’s, blah, blah, blah.
But, I find it more . . .
ENcouraging that Felix had a solid outing (SIX IP ~ SIX hits ~ THREE runs ~ ONE walk ~ FIVE K’s) against a good (if not GREAT) team
than DIScouraging that our offense couldn’t muster up much – ‘t was Verlander, after all
And – the STREAK is still ALIVE!!!
Thanks, Mitch 🙂
tweets of the game . . .
on the MOUND
‘t was the ‘battle of the Wades’ – Miley vs LeBlanc . . .
at the PLATE
in the FIELD
OK – I’ll be honest, I’m not feeling the magenta.
I’m glad to know that T-Mobile is a northwest born company (didn’t realize that till now) but, the pink seems a bit out of place with all our blue, green and teal. I guess we’ll get use to it. The pink clouds on Opening Night, however, were lovely . . .
pink clouds preferred to magenta signs
Well, the M’s are certainly off to a great start!
After having won both games vs. the Athletics in Japan, neither of which I watched, (I get up at 4am normally, just can’t make those 2:30am first pitches) they managed to take three of four from the world champs at home!
Scoring Early
One thing I noticed in the Red Sox series (besides the fact that I recognize less than one third of the team 😉 is that, except for the first game where they scored in all but three innings, they scored a LOT early but, nothing after the 4th inning in both the second and fourth games and nothing after the 5th in the third game.
Who IS this offense?!?
Pen Probs
As a whole, the pen’s not doing two bad: a handful of guys are yet to post an ERA, gone through several long stretches in game w/o giving up runs. But, our new closer, Hunter Strickland, gave up a 3-run homer to Mitch Moreland in game two – which proved to be the winning run in the only Red Sox win. After the game, Bill Kruger mentioned he thought Hunter was making some suspicious movements, like he may be hurt – turns out he was right 😦 as Hunter has landed on the DL with a lat strain – out for “a couple of months” according to the Skipper.
3B woes
Gotta feel for Dylan Moore – rookie who got his first start at 3B on Saturday night and proceeded to commit THREE ERRORS in-a-row in the top of the 9th inning. Thankfully, the M’s were able to hang on to the ONE-run victory. Hopefully, he’ll get back out there soon – really the only way to push through the yips – #JustAskBlowers
Next up, the Halos for TWO – Felix’s first start of the season tomorrow . . .
Now, some of the special moments of Opening Night . . .
Awesome to see the ovation for Edgar throwing out the first pitch and the unveiling of the countdown to the Hall of Fame . . .
A moment of silence for those lost . . .
Awesome sunset from the third level concourse . . .
Black and White is better . . .
and then the garish from the outside . . .
~ a tale of two series ~
where the second game of each was the stand out w/very different outcomes . . .
(M’s win the series 2-1)
The M’s second series with the A’s featured a heart-breaking loss in which James struck out SIXTEEN batters (in SEVEN innings). Unfortunately, M’s bats weren’t exactly on fire either and both Juan and Edwin gave up runs late, wasting the best outing of James’ career and blowing the victory.
(M’s lose the series 1-2)
What a crazy game on Saturday! The M’s didn’t score until the 6th when Jean, Mitch, Robbie and Nellie go: single, double, double, walk to score TWO and cut the Halos lead in half. Then in the 8th, they take the lead with a couple of singles, a double, a walk and a homer (Zu! TWO run shot). Halos tie it up in the top of the 9th and it goes to extras – where the roller coaster begins: Halos score in the 10th, M’s tie it. Halos score in the 11th, M’s tie it with a Kyle double (scoring Robbie who had a lead-off walk) and then Ryon’s first walk-off for the M’s – double scoring Kyle 🙂
Yes, we will take TWO out of THREE every time! (and all ONE-RUN games, at that!)
(covered Opening Day in previous post )
Each of the second and third game saw the M’s earn FIVE runs (one short of a win in one game and just enough to win the other). So, in the two games combined, they had EIGHTEEN hits, FIVE doubles, THREE homers and FIVE walks . . . very decent production.
Mitch is on F I R E !!!
I know, it’s only three games but, still . . . fun to see him leading the majors in BA/OBP/OPS/SLG 🙂 especially since I picked him to be the best “new-comer” last season and he was off to a great start but, then got hurt (a couple times 😦 )
Speaking of injuries . . .
oh, Nellie! a homer in each of the first TWO games and then some freak accident, turning his ankle stepping into the dugout 😦
I-chi-ro!
spectacular wall-climbing catch on Saturday: Ichiro’s robbery
On the MOUND
So, really seems that it all comes down to health . . .
Next up – short 2-game series w/the Giants in SanFran and then the Twins home-opener (another Thursday/Saturday/Sunday series) then off to Kansas City for three).
Go M’s!
Surprise, surprise!
Compass Rosy is still around 😉
I’ve definitely been a bad fan by letting too many distractions get in the way of focusing on the Mariners this late Winter/early Spring – but, no more! I”m going to do my best to keep up with our “boys of summer” this season. My commute now requires a ferry ride and does not allow for my to watch complete games on TV (let alone attend in person without special arrangements – like I made in order to attend this one) since I have to arise at 4am every weekday to catch the first boat off the island. But, will do my best to stay engaged and provide thoughts and observations as we go along in 2018 . . .
WELCOME BACK BASEBALL 🙂
Great to be back at Safeco Field for actual Opening Day . . .
I’ve never missed a home opener at Safeco Field – and not about to start now, no matter where I live! Interesting that this is only the second time in the past ten seasons that the M’s actually opened the season at home!
Firsts for the First Game . . .
And then there were the firsts in the first inning . . .
Robbie had the first M’s hit on the first pitch he saw, followed by Nellie who hit it out with no doubt on the first pitch to him.
With the M’s leading 2-1, a bit of frustrating drama in the top of the ninth . . .
Eddie’s first save was anything but boring: he struck out the first batter; then hit the second batter, who later advanced on a balk AND stole 3B; then he hit the third batter; then he struck out the next two.
In between . . .
Felix: 5.1 innings, TWO hits, TWO walks, FOUR K’s
Bullpen: despite Edwin’s drama, that ended well, they are looking good – combined for 3.2 innings, THREE hits (all off Nick) ONE run (Nick) and FOUR K’s
Skipper praised Mike (Marjama – not Mike Zu, who was scratched shortly before the game with an oblique strain 😦 ). Given the unusual circumstances – only his sixth MLB start and the first opening day start of his career, plus getting hit on the hand early in the game. He was able to navigate well through Felix’s innings and the barrage of bullpen guys.
Other notable items . . .
Safeco Field record for attendance for a regular season game: 41,497
tweets of the game . . .
https://twitter.com/SteveSandmeyer/status/979561135706959872
my photos of the game . . .
