Noesi Loses 1-0 as Offense Fails Again

Yikes... Noesi went 8 strong innings and gave up the only run of the game via a leadoff homer in the 7th.  Unfortunately his teammates had plenty of opportunities to score yet couldn't capitalize.  We have yet to win since the combined no-hitter.

Padres (21-41)

Venable RF

Cabrera SS

Headley 3B

Quentin DH

Kotsay LF

Alonso 1B

Maybin CF

Hundley C

Amarista DH

Marquis (0-1, 3.00)

Mariners (27-36)

Ichiro RF

Ackley 2B

Seager 3B

Montero C

Smoak 1B

Saunders CF

Jaso DH

Wells LF

Kawasaki SS

Noesi (2-6, 5.99)

As stated above, Noesi pitched a fine game with one mistake, and that was the ballgame as we lost 1-0.  We had some opportunities, eight hits and four walks, but we just couldn't get that clutch hit when he needed to.  Montero had a huge base running blunder in the 3nd after leading off with a single and advancing to 2nd on a Smoak walk.  Saunders hit a line drive to left, and for some reason Montero didn't notice what was going on, and he was doubled off second.  No chance was that ball dropping in.  To top it off, the very next pitch was a wild one advancing Smoak to second.  We could have had runners on 2nd and 3rd with nobody out!  Montero's young, but that's no excuse.

Smoak hit a ball deep to center in the 6th which was hauled in at the warning track.  After what happened yesterday in which he hit two very long fly balls... he was visibly irritated and slammed his helmet to the ground.   The very next batter of the game, Kotsay, hit a homer to right field.  And that was the ballgame.  It was pretty funny.  It was almost as if... "Hey Smoak, watch me, this is how you hit a homer at Safeco".

I guess the biggest news of the day is that there were several players moved today. Gutierrez was picked up from the DL, Carp and Pryor both placed on the DL, Liddi and Beavan sent down to AAA, and Delabar, Wells, and Ramirez recalled from AAA.  Good to see Wells back, and especially Gutierrez who has been bothered by injuries the last couple of years.  I hope he can return to form soon.  He wasn't in the lineup tonight, but should be tomorrow.

I've decided to make a change to the blog, it is getting to be too much to get so detailed.  Plus I get behind, as I'm writing this it is actually June 21st and they have an off-day in San Diego.

The Mariners are now 7-10 when I attend and have been shut out 3 times.
Attendance: 13,931
Time of Game: 2:46

Mariners Can't Break Out

The Mariners couldn't break through as they left the Bases Loaded in top of the 1st and lost 3-1.

Rangers (26-17)

Kinsler 2B

Andrus SS

Hamilton CF

Beltre 3B

Young DH

Murphy LF

Cruz RF

Napoli C

Moreland 1B

Harrison (4-3, 5.21)

Mariners (20-24)

Ackley DH

Liddi 3B

Ichiro RF

Montero C

Smoak 1B

Seager 2B

Wells LF

Saunders CF

Ryan SS

Noesi (2-4, 5.61)

Noesi was stellar, he only had two mistakes all game and unfortunately those mistakes cost him as our offense just couldn't give him enough support.  We had ample opportunity, especially in the 1st inning as we loaded the bases after already scoring one run on an RBI single by Smoak.  Wells, on his first pitch, absolutely crushed the ball to left center and for a few seconds nearly everyone in the ballpark thought he'd hit it out.  Unfortunately Hamilton was able to haul it in at the warning track to end the inning. 

The Rangers had pretty much their entire offense in the third inning as Noesi walked two, then gave up a triple to left-center to Andrus followed by a double to left by Hamilton (both with two outs).  3-1 Rangers at that point, and that was pretty much the game.  The Rangers only had two base runners the rest of the game, and the Mariners couldn't break through.

In the third, Liddi lead off the inning by crushing a ball himself... once again Hamilton tracked the ball down.  This time it was against the wall and he may have taken back a home run, it was hard to tell from my perspective.  He ripped the bottom of the wall from pushing off of it.  The Mariners had a couple of more chances in the game to score but were unable to do anything.  In the 5th, there were runners on 1st and 3rd with two outs after a double by Ryan and error by Beltre on Liddi's at-bat.  But, Ichiro hit into a fielder's choice to end the threat.  In the 8th, we had our first two hitters reach base via singles but Montero, Smoak, and Seager couldn't come through.  That was our last threat.

It is always a shame to waste a good pitching performance, but something we have all become accustomed to the last few years.  You can see the players are getting better.  Baseball is a game of failure and most of the time you aren't going to come through.  Only in those rare seasons, like 2001, does everyone hit lights out and come through in nearly every situation.  And hell, we ended up not coming through in the ALCS against the Yankees!  So you just have to chalk this up to one of those games, and hope that tomorrow they will hit that grand slam with the bases loaded if the opportunity should arise.

There was a lot of debate after the game about moving the fences in to improve the mental approach by Mariners hitters.  I say, if you move in the fences it improves the opponents as well, and that they never seem to have a problem hitting homers.  This was only 1 game in which we would have won because of homers, the Wells and Liddi fly balls.  Well... what about every other game in which our own fielders haul down shots that would go out if the fences were drawn in?  We just need the right players.  Hell, we just need players to hit to their potential!

They started closing the roof in the top of the 1st inning, about 4 minutes after the game started.

The Mariners are 6-6 when I attend
Time of Game: 2:28
Attendance: 15,604

Noesi Pummeled

On Saturday, Hector Noesi threw a gem, lasting 8 shutout innings.  Tonight, we wasn't able to make it out of the second as the Mariners lost 7-3 on Ichiro Bobblehead night.

White Sox (6-6)

De Aza CF

Morel 3B

Dunn DH

Konerko 1B

Pierzynski C

Rios RF

Ramirez SS

Viciedo LF

Beckham 2B

Sale (1-1, 3.09)

Mariners (7-7)

Figgins CF

Ackley 2B

Ichiro RF

Smoak 1B

Montero C

Olivo DH

Liddi 3B

Wells LF

Ryan SS

Noesi (1-1, 5.73)

Before the game started, we walked around the ballpark taking things in.  Looks like they fixed the grammatical error in the decorative "Grand Salami" quote near the Niehaus Statue.  They added an apostrophe so instead of saying "...Its Grand Salami Time" it now correctly states "It's Grand Salami Time.


We also went to Blazing Bagels near the left field entrance, I had never been there before but since it is attached to the outside the prices are much cheaper.  I got two bagels for $6.45 and my sister got a huge boxed lunch of a bagel sandwich, drink, pickle, chips, cookie, and coleslaw for $11.  I will definitely be going back there as I have been disappointed with the fare at Safeco this year.  They no longer make the garlic chicken & fries, you only receive chicken tenders and regular fries.  BOOOOOO.


Back to the game, Noesi didn't have it from the start.  Last week he was really quick between pitches, but he labored from the very first batter tonight.  It seemed like he and Montero were arguing.  I don't know what it was, but he didn't have anything!  De Aza lead off with a single, then stole a bases.  Morel walked, then Dunn hit a double to left driving in his first run of the game (he would have 5).  They loaded the bases on 1 out and got their second run via a sacrifice fly from Rios.  In the 2nd inning, he retired the first batter of the inning but then gave up 4 consecutive hits, a double, two singles, and a three run homer by Dunn to center.  Wedge yanked him after the home run.  It was disappointing as our offense was never really given a chance.  Noesi's final line:  1.1 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 2 BB, 1 K = 40.50ERA on 58 pitches!!!

One of the stories of the game is that the Mariners had runners in scoring position in each of the first four innings and could only manage one run.  Overall, we were 1 for 13 with runners in scoring position.  After opening up the 1st down 2-0, we roared right back by getting Figgins and Ackley on first and third.  Figgins had singled to shortstop, and made it all the way around to third on Ackley's single to center.  It was good base running by Figgins, once again.  But Ichiro struck out swinging and Smoak hit into a double play.  In the second inning we got runners on 2nd and 3rd with two outs but were unable to produce.  By that time we were down 6-0 and the ballgame was pretty much over.  We did squeak in a run in the third thanks to an RBI double by Ichiro.  Montero got us our second by LAUNCHING a solo homer to lead off the 6th, to dead center.  It travelled 417 feet and was his second of the year.  Ichiro picked up his second rbi of the game by driving in Ryan in the 7th.

Our Bullpen did a pretty decent job, allowing only 1 extra batter above minimum the whole rest of the game, but we were unable to overcome the damage of Noesi's ineffectiveness.  Iwakuma finally made is ML debut in the6th inning and finished off the game, allowing Dunn's second homer, a solo, to lead off the 8th inning.  There was a running joke on Twitter wondering if he even existed, since we hadn't seen a glimpse of him in the previous 14 games this season.  So there were some positives about the game, Ramirez and Iwakuma were good.  Unfortunately my optimism about the improvement in our offense this year is beginning to wane. We need to start producing!  Sure, a few of our guys had pretty decent nights at the plate but it is a team game and someone needs to step up and drive in guys when they are on base!

Montero threw out his first base runner tonight, an attempted steal by Beckham in the 7th.

An interesting note, the first 20,000 fans received an Ichiro Bobblehead.  Only 19,947 showed up to the ballgame.  My, how far we have fallen.  In the past the Bobbleheads have been gone by 5:30.   Even the classic marketing gimmicks can't drawn fans anymore!

The Mariners are now 2-3 when I attend, and 7-8 overall
Time of Game: 2:45

Noesi and Montero Shine

I have attended four shutouts in a row at Safeco Field, thankfully today was the first time the Mariners had won in that span.  Today's final score was the reverse of yesterday's, as we won 4-0.  The stars of the game were traded for in the Pineda trade. 

Athletics (4-4)

Weeks 2B

Crisp LF

Reddick RF

Cespedes CF

Smith DH

Suzuki C

Barton 1B

Donaldson 3B

Pennington SS

Milone (1-0, 0.00)

Mariners (4-5)

Figgins CF

Ackley 2B

Ichiro RF

Smoak 1B

Montero C

Liddi 3B

Olivo DH

Wells LF

Ryan SS

Noesi (0-1, 21.00)

It was the first time we got to see Noesi, I had no idea what to expect as he was shelled in his first start in Texas.  He was very effective and induced a ton of popups.  Ackley alone had four of the nine. The only major trouble he got in was in the 8th inning.  He was at 88 pitches through 7 and at the rate he was going I thought he had a possibility of a complete game.  He retired the first two batters of the 8th, but then Pennington got a single up the middle and Weeks launched a double to right center.  We were lucky that it bounced over the fence for a ground rule double, 'cause Pennington was already around third ready to score.  Noesi then induced Crisp to pop up on the next pitch, and he stranded the runners on second and third.  Fantastic first outing at home, I was very impressed.  League came in to finish off the game in the 9th.

Milone faced only 1 batter above the minimum through 5 innings, that was Montero's 2nd inning full count rocket of a home run to deep center, estimated at 415 feet.  It was literally a line drive, I thought it was going to hit off the top of the wall for a double but it kept carrying.  It was his first home run as a Mariner.  That was all of our offense until the sixth inning.  There was a questionable call in the 4th in which Ichiro hit a solid stroke just past first base.  Barton was able to deflect it, but it hit the first base umpire so instead of going to the wall Barton was able to snatch it and throw to Milone covering first.  Wedge came out to argue, pointing animatedly.  It was bang bang, huge boos came from the concourse after the replay on TV, but according to twitter he was out. 

In the sixth inning we broke out for three more runs.  We loaded the bases with 1 out via a Ryan single, Figgins double, and Ackley walk.  Ichiro, not surprisingly, popped out.  So the bases were loaded with two out for the "meat" of our lineup.  Smoak has been struggling but he patiently worked a walk for his third RBI of the year.  Then, Montero came through again with a double down the right field line, it dropped right in front of our section and cleared the bases... except Smoak was thrown out at home (9-3-2) so we only got two runs on the play.  The collision at home was a little scary at first, as Smoak seemed to take some time getting up.  But he played the rest of the game so he must be okay.  Montero was the hero, his final line: 3 AB, R, 2B, HR, 3RBI

Montero quietly has an 8 game hitting streak.  I guess he has done so because they had all been singles prior to tonight.  Also, he caught his second game of the year.  We have won both games, and unlike Olivo he has done a decent job blocking pitches.  The kid is only 22, I can see Montero moving to being the starting catcher if he continues to make progress.  The Athletics did steal a base on him in the third, but the more repetitions he gets the better he will be.  Of course, he won't be one of the top notch defensive catchers out there, but his better than average offense will offset that.  Your DH should not be a 22 year old.  

I would like the add that the Saturday curse is officially broken!  Last year I attended 9 games on Saturday and we won none of them!

The Mariners are now 1-1 when I attend, 5-5 overall.
Attendance: 21,071
Time of Game: 2:29