Tag Archives: Rodney

g122-124 | woeful series w/the pale hose . . .

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A couple of things that are abundantly clear (though may get a bit lost among the bullpen blow ups and the offensive woes):
~ Much as I love Crazy Legs, have to admit that Ketel is making a great case to be the shortstop of the future – awed by his defense and not too shabby as the lead-off guy
~ Nelson is on FIRE
~ Guti, when in, has also been smokin’ hot
~ Robbie and AJ aren’t doing too bad either
~ the bullpen CAN be lights out but, is usually the opposite

the future is now

Mariners 4 | White Sox 11
‘t wasn’t a very Happy Felix Day . . .
far from his worst outing and, he did give them a chance (which Nando, Dave and Rob did NOT) but, not near what we expect from Felix. As for the bats, the power was there (two homers: Mark and Nellie, a double: Ketel) but, as per usual, the production w/RISP was not.

Mariners 3 | White Sox 6
Really too bad for Vidal . . .
as he pitched really well, allowing only ONE run through his SIX.TWO innings (a solo shot in the 2nd) but, as has been the story more often than not of late – the bullpen (specifically Danny and Carson) melted down, allowing a combined FIVE runs in the 9th (that tied the game) and the 10th (that won the game for the Sox)

Mariners 8 | White Sox 6
Hey, look, a win!!!
A great first FIVE innings for Tai but, then he fell apart a bit in the 6th when he allowed two singles, a double, a homer and FOUR runs (one, an inherited runner that Kensing allowed to score) and Seattle’s lead went from 7-1 to 7-6. Thankfully, the M’s picked up an “insurance run in the 8th and were able to hold on the the 8-6 score as the bullpen of Carson and Tom actually did their job well.

tweets of the series . . . 

https://twitter.com/SteveSandmeyer/status/634956247272284161

https://twitter.com/SteveSandmeyer/status/635300104002342913

https://twitter.com/SteveSandmeyer/status/635316509867245568

https://twitter.com/SteveSandmeyer/status/635570203166834688

g119 | well, at least the pen FINALLY got some rest . . .

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Mariners 3 | Rangers 4

rested relief

The M’s bullpen actually only had to pitch THREE innings tonight.
The Rangers killed the M’s all night long with their speed (in the form of bunt base hits, infield singles and hustle doubles) but, even with that, the M’s had a chance as it went to the bottom of the 9th tied at THREE . . .
and then the dreaded “walk-off walk” 😦

ON the MOUND
Tai was the first pitcher to give the M’s more than FIVE innings since Kuma’s no-hitter last Wednesday. Considering the competition, he did really well tonight and gave them every shot to win . . .
SIX innings ~ TEN hits ~ THREE earned runs ~ ONE walk ~ THREE strikeouts

} then Edgar (no, not that Edgar!), “new guy” just called up from AAA had a very nice debut, going ONE.TWO innings.He allowed ONE hit (TWO-out double in the 8th) and Tom came in and got a ground out to end the inning.

} Nando had a tough go: that Ranger speed really hurt him with the first TWO hitters reaching via bunt base hits (not sure I’ve seen that before). But then, Nando didn’t help himself (or his teammates) by loading the bases on a HBP, giving a glimmer of hope when he struck out Prince but, in the end he issued a bases-loaded walk

AT the PLATE
A little more of yesterday’s O would have been nice . . .
~ Only EIGHT total hits and only ONE for extra bases (Guti’s RBI double)
~ Every hitter but Robbie (who had FIVE yesterday) got ONE hit
~ Kyle had the other RBI and also stole a base
~ Cruz’s hit extended his ‘on base streak’ to TWENTY-EIGHT

IN the FIELD
* The M’s turned TWO DP’s (and one was started on a doozy of a play by Ketel!)

* They had a rough one turned against them, Kyle hit a deep fly ball fielded by Choo who then threw a “no-bounce” lazor to nail LoMo at the plate (preventing what would have been the go-ahead run at the time)

tweets of the game . . .

g118 | THIS time TEN (runs) WAS enough but, NINE (innings) was not . . .

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Mariners 10 | Red Sox 8 (in 12)

extra innings

Yes indeed, the M’s scored TEN runs in back-to-back games but only have ONE win to show for it.

‘t was an exciting extra-inning affair in which the M’s took an early 7-0 lead but, as is their want (especially in Fenway) the Sox came roaring back and needed TWO in the 9th to tie it and that’s exactly what they got but, thanks to some EXTRA-GUTTY pitching in innings 20-12 and some EXTRA-CLUTCH hitting in inning number TWELVE, the M’s emerge victorious!

ON the MOUND
It would have been nice if Vidal could have gotten ONE more inning but, considering the circumstances, he did alright . . .
He held the Sox scoreless for TWO straight innings – something NO M’s pitcher had done in this series. He allowed a solo shot to Bogaerts in the 3rd, another solo shot to Castillo along with a double and a sac fly in the 4th, and another double and sac-fly combo in the 5th before being pulled on a very hot and humid day at Fenway.
FOUR.ONE ~ NINE hits ~ FOUR earned runs ~ ONE walk ~ TWO strikeouts

HUGE credit to the bullpen who must quite literally be running on fumes . . .
} Tom tossed TWO scoreless . . .
he was helped immensely by the “best friend” in the 5th (runner at 1B initially called safe but, M’s challenged, the call was over-turned and the M’s were out of the inning via the DP). Tom also threw a 1-2-3 6th
} Joe entered in the 7th (after Tom got a K but then walked the next guy) and walked the first and only batter he faced
} In came Nando who allowed an inherited runs to score on a ground out but, then got another ground ball to end the 7th. In the 8th, Nando allowed a hit but was able to hold the Sox scoreless that frame.
} Carson committed the cardinal sin in the 9th – lead-off walk and the RS sent the game to extras via a ground out RBI and THREE singles (thank heavens the RS sent Big Papi, as he was dead meat at home). In the 10th, Carson AGAIN allowed a lad-off walk (are you sensing a pattern here?) but, thankfully, buckled down and STRUCK OUT THE SIDE!!!
} Rob was great: he also walked a guy in the 11th but, got a couple of HUGE strikeouts (including Big Papi!) but, another lead-off walk in the 12th and Lloyd called to the pen, yet again.
} Danny to the rescue! TWO quick strikeouts and a ground ball he fielded himself earned him his first save of the season!

AT the PLATE
Where to start?!? not surprising when there are EIGHTEEN hits 🙂
~ SIX players with multi-hit games
~ Robbie with his second career FIVE-hit game
~ Robbie and Guti with back-to-back homers in the 1st (Robbie’s w/Ketel aboard)
~ Guti with another homer in the 3rd, this one a THREE-run shot!
~ Ketel had a great day – TWO doubles, TWO walks and TWO runs scored
~ AJ recorded TWO stolen bases and TWO hits and scored the NINTH run in the 12th
~ Nellie added what seemed at the time a nice insurance run – a solo shot in the 7th that made it 8-4
~ Zu and Kyle each with RBI singles in the 12th
~ Seth had a pinch hit triple and Brad pinch-ran and scored the M’s TENTH run in the 12th

IN the FIELD
* Vidal with a pick-off of Betts at 1B
* seems like they had endless chances at DP’s but, only ended up with ONE (Ketel to Robbie to Jesus M)
* Seth had an OF assist of Big Papi at home

tweets of the game . . . 

g114 | scoring early, scoring late . . .

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Mariners 6 | Orioles 5 (in 10)

early and late

ON the MOUND
Tai was not very efficient (110 pitches) but pretty effective . . . 
He had a shaky start, giving up THREE of his FIVE hits, the walk and BOTH runs in the 1st – then Tai settled down, at one point retiring ELEVEN in-a-row
SIX innings ~ FIVE hits ~ TWO runs/earned runs ~ ONE walk ~ SIX strikeouts

The first half of the bully, unfortunately, was NOT as effective . . .
}Tom gave up a TWO-run homer in the 7th and Joe a solo shot (to tie it) in the 8th

The second half of the bully ~ yowsa, back to form!
} Carson (9th) and Nando (10th) combined for TWO.TWO hitless, scoreless innings – Nando with the win

AT the PLATE
THIRTEEN total hits ~ FOUR for extra-bases . . . 
~ Nellie didn’t waste any time extending his hitting streak to TWENTY-ONE w/his 34th homer in the 1st
~ Mark added a 3-run TRUM-BOMB in the same inning to give the M’s the 4-2 lead
~ Robbie and Seth combined to go 5/8 each with a run scored and Robbie also walked
~ Brad had a THREE hit night with a walk and a run scored
~ Kyle with a sac-fly that scored Brad in the 2nd
~ and AJ was the hero of the night with the game-winning RBI in the 10th scoring LoMo

IN the FIELD
No DP’s for either side, the O’s committed TWO errors (but neither resulted in a run)

tweets of the game . . .

https://twitter.com/SteveSandmeyer/status/631292802266075136

g112 | Happy, Happy Felix Day!!

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Mariners 4 | Rangers 2

IMG_3740

Mariners victories always best shared with friends 🙂

ON the MOUND
Well, the Rangers certainly made The King work: 104 pitches thru SEVEN innings (which helps puts into perspective the Rookie Monty’s outing). But, Lloyd desperately needed Felix to go at least SEVEN and that’s what he did. The two runs were via an RBI double and a wild pitch (haven’t looked but, seems the M’s might have given up the most runs via WP this season)

SEVEN innings ~ SIX hits ~ TWO runs/earned runs ~ ONE walk ~ FIVE strikeouts

The bullpen was effective . . . .

  • The boos started with ball TWO and a lead-off walk allowed by Nando but, fly out, single, strikeout and groundout followed.
  • Carson allowed a lead-off single and also hit a batter but, in the end, recorded his 12th save and preserved Felix’s 14th victory

AT the PLATE
Only FIVE total hits for the M’s but . . .
~ Their first run was via Ketel’s FIRST major league RBI (scoring Mark who had reached 2B on an error on a pop-up and advanced to 3B on Brad’s sac bunt) and, he was the only Mariner w/TWO hits and also recorded his first big league stolen base
~ TWO-run bomb by Jesus M gave the M’s their second and third runs (and the lead for good) in the 4th

~ Nellie extended his hitting streak to NINETEEN with his THIRTY-THIRD homer (and his NINTH consecutive extra-base hit)

IN the FIELD
* No DP’s recorded (one against, an unassisted by Moreland)
* Nellie made a great diving catch in RF for the first out of the game (continues to be more than serviceable there)
* Brad with a nice play that he stayed with after a bad hop
* Robbie with one of his patented “sliding slick picks” snaring a liner on a short hop and throwing casually to 1B for the out to save a run

tweets of the game . . .

https://twitter.com/SteveSandmeyer/status/630497801521106945

g111 | ooooooh boooooy . . .

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Mariners 3 | Rangers 11 (in 11)

blow out

So, believe it or not, this one was tied at THREE from the 4th until the top of the 11th 😦
– The Rangers scored their initial THREE runs in the 4th on an RBI-double, and RBI single and a bases-loaded walk
– The Mariners tied it up in the bottom of the inning with TWO RBI singles and a sac-fly
– Knotted till the 11th when all HECK broke loose (thankfully, as I was on my way to a party, I didn’t see/hear the destruction)

ON the MOUND
So much for the confidence builder in Minny – Monty had a rough go today . . . .
He threw a TON of pitches (82 – less than half for strikes) and his control wasn’t there FOUR walks, TWO scored)
FOUR innings ~ FIVE hits ~ THREE earned runs ~ FOUR walks ~ FOUR strikeouts

The first SIX guys out of the pen were great: Dave, Mayckol, Nando and Tom combined for SIX scoreless!

and then came the 11th w/Rob and Joe . . .
he gave up SIX runs without recording an out (FIVE straight singles and then a double) without recording an out. Joe promptly allowed another single (allowing the inherited runner to score) got an out then allowed a TWO-run homer before retiring the last two batters.

AT the PLATE
Only EIGHT total hits and ONE for extra bases (Nellie’s 17 double which extended his hitting streak to 18) and FOURTEEN strikeouts

They had their chances though, the best one coming in the bottom of the 10th when the Rangers IBB’d BOTH Robbie and Nellie but, with TWO outs, Jesus M struck out

IN the FIELD
* Jesus S involved in a couple of good plays (that were both challenged and ruled in the M’s favor): a pick off of Beltre at 1B and a tag out of Gimenez at Home
* Brad had an OF assist throwing to Robbie to nab the runner trying to advance to 2B
* Zu to Robbie naild Odor trying to steal 2B for the second out in the 9th
* Nice DP to end the 9th (Tom to Brad to Jesus M)

tweets of the game . . . 

g108 | adding on late, means THREE in-a-row!!!

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Mariners 10 | Rockies 4

three in a row

ON the MOUND
Vidal got his first M’s start (replacing the traded Happ in the rotation, for now)
Didn’t quite make it through FOUR but, hey, when your first start is in Colorado, can’t complain too much . . . and, he helped his own cause by hitting an RBI single in the 4th 🙂
THREE.TWO innings ~ FIVE hits ~ THREE earned runs ~ TWO walks ~ THREE strikeouts

} Rob, Mayckol and Joe combined for FOUR.ONE innings of ONE run (Mayckol) ball
} Nando tossed a ONE-TWO-THREE 9th! (w/TWO K’s)

AT the PLATE
runs! runs! and more runs!
Every starter but Jesus S got at least one hit (but he reached on a FC and scored a run)
~ Nellie extended his hitting streak to FIFTEEN and his homer streak to FIVE with his THIRTY-FIRST!!!
~ Robbie and Seth both had RBI doubles
~ Robbie and Guti (pinch hit!) both had TWO-run singles
~ Vidal, AJ and Jesus M all had RBI singles
~ Nellie, Robbie, Mark and Brad all with TWO-hit games
~ Brad singled, doubled, stole a base and scored a run

IN the FIELD
* Beautiful running catch by AJ, to rob the Rocks of extra bases in the 5th
* No DP’s but, Joe picked a runner off 1B for the THIRD out of the 8th

tweets of the game . . .

https://twitter.com/SteveSandmeyer/status/628777503356628993

and, as Robbie goes, so goes the team, or so it seems . . . 

g106 | KKKKKKKKuma and the late inning bats!

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Mariners 4 | Twins 1 (in 11)

keep-calm-and-better-late-than-never

ON the MOUND
Coming into this game, The Bear hadn’t allowed a run to the Twins in 33+ innings . . . 
he added another EIGHT and ONE THIRD innings before giving up a solo shot w/ONE out in the 9th
Sucks that Kuma didn’t get the win but, the team will take W’s any way they can right now!
EIGHT.TWO innings ~ THREE hits ~ ONE run/earned run ~ ONE walk ~ EIGHT strikeouts

Look Ma, an effective, efficient bullpen performance! (that’s EEBP for short 😉 )
} Carson gets a bit of redemption after yesterday’s blown save, striking out the only batter he faced
} Nando wasn’t quite as lights out as yesterday (walked the lead-off batter) but, retired the next THREE in order
} Tommy allowed a lead-off double but then, was able to retire the next THREE in order  and record his second save

AT the PLATE
Not a lot of scoring, by either side, given they BOTH scored their FIRST runs in the 9th on solo shots . . .
~ The M’s homer? Who else? Nellie! (29th)
~ the only other extra base hit – Jesus M’s double
~ LoMo had a pinch-hit RBI single in the top of the 11th

~ AJ added some 11th inning insurance: a TWO-run single
~ How ’bout that Ketel Marte?!? The rookie got his FIRST major league hit, went 3/4 with a run scored and a walk

IN the FIELD
* No DP’s turned (but, TWO turned against them 😦 )
* Kyle with a GREAT diving stop and throw to 1B for the out

* AJ with a NICE catch at the WALL to rob an extra-base hit
* Kuma with a “defensive” defensive move . . . .

tweets of the game . . . 

https://twitter.com/SteveSandmeyer/status/627924883113029632