Carp Snaps Streak

Losing streak, that is.  The Mariners played spoiler, knocking off the Angels 5-3 on one of their better games of the year.  We had everything, great hitting, great defense, and solid pitching.  Seeing as how we came into the game 20 games under, the only thing to look forward to is the role of spoiler and the continued development of our youngsters.  The Angels are fighting for the AL West top spot with the Rangers, but they will have to wait at least another day for a win.

Angels (72-61)

Izturis 3B

Kendrick 2B

Abreu DH

Hunter RF

Trumbo 1B

Wells LF

Aybar SS

Bourjos CF

Conger C

Pineiro P

Mariners (56-76)

Ichiro RF

Gutierrez CF

Ackley 2B

Carp 1B

Olivo C

Kennedy DH

Wells LF

Seager 3B

Ryan SS

Beavan P

Trumbo is a freaking beast of a rookie... he came into the game hitting 256 with 18 homers and 71 RBI.  He added 2 more RBI with his 2 run homer in the 4th.  The Angels added another run that inning, but that was pretty much all she wrote for their offense!

Ackley was a homer shy of a cycle, Wells got two outfield assists (3rd and 7th) as well as walked in 3 out of his 4 plate appearances (one intentional), and Carp crushed the game winning 2 run homer 432 feet to the hit it here cafe in the 8th as the Mariners won 5-3 in a thrilling game.  There were only 16,990 fans, which is pathetic considering the weather was beautiful and it is still August!  The Mariners hit a season high 7 extra base hits.  Ichiro had 2 of them, both doubles in which he came around on a sac fly to left field in the first and Ackley's triple in the 5th (which tied the game at 3).  He now has 153 hits on the year with 29 games to go on his quest for 200.  I really hope he doesn't get it.

Garlic Chicken
14-16 when I attend
I scored, but let my sister score for nearly half of the game.  She did a good job and I think had a good time.

Morrow Returns

It was the return of Brandon Morrow, our former #1 pick from several years ago.  After screwing around with him for a couple of years... we finally traded him away to Toronto for a fresh start.  He has days where he is just on, lights out... and then days when he gets rocked!  I was there for his first ML Start in which he took a no-hitter into the 8th inning.  Tonight was one of those nights.  At one point he struck out 5 in a row, ending up with 12k in 6 total innings.  He gave up just one run and picked up the win as the Mariners fell to the Blue Jays 5-1.

Blue Jays (62-60)

Escobar SS

Thames LF

Bautista RF

Lind 1B

Encarnacion DH

Rasmus CF

Lawrie 3B

Hill 2B

Molina C

Morrow P

Mariners (53-68)

Ichiro DH

Gutierrez CF

Ackley 2B

Carp 1B

Wells RF

Robinson LF

Seager 3B

Bard C

Wilson SS

Beavan P

The Blue Jays scored all their runs via the longball.  After hitting three on Monday they hit three more today.  A leadoff solo in the 2nd, 3 run HR in the 3rd, and another leadoff homer in the 4th.  5 runs was all they needed, and then some.  Wells had entered the game hitting home runs in 4 straight games.  Unfortunately this streak came to an end as he was hit on the nose in the 6th inning after striking out his first two times at the plate.  It turns out he was fine, just a little rattled, as x-rays etc came back negative.  However another streak was extended as Carp pushed his hitting streak to 17 games in the 4th.  Ackley had 3ks, he's struggling a little.  We only mustered 3 hits total in the game.

Ate a slice of Pizza
Attendance 26,579
13-14 when I attend and fell to 53-69 overall.

"Infield Triple"

I've said it before and I'll say it again, one of the reasons I love baseball is that you always see something different at the ballpark.  Tonight was a wacky game!  With King Felix on the mound in front of 22,576 we saw a play that we will probably never see again.  Well, possibly... but it happens very rarely.

Athletics 

Weeks 2B

Crisp CF

Matsui LF

Willingham DH

Sweeney RF

Jackson 1B

Suzuki C

Sogard SS

Sizemore 3B

Harden P

Mariners

Ichiro RF

Ryan SS

Ackley 2B

Carp DH

Kennedy 3B

Olivo C

Smoak 1B

Wells LF

Gutierrez CF

Hernandez P

In the bottom of the first inning, Brendan Ryan, with 1 out, hit a chopper to third and was safe at first on the throw.  Don't know how it happened, but for some reason many Athletics missed their assignment.  The 2nd baseman had gone to back up at first, but nobody was anywhere near 2nd base so Ryan took off for second.  As this was happening their third baseman ran to 2nd to take a throw, which never came... and nobody backed up third!  Ryan took off for third!!!  He slid in safely and may have singledhandidly won this game, 'cause after a walk by Ackley Carp hit a 2 RBI 2B and we had spotted Felix two runs in the 1st.  We never trailed the rest of the game.

In the third inning Ackley knocked yet another triple... this time it was "ground rule" triple as a fan reached over and picked up the ball.  Ackley was already turning at 2nd so the umpire awarded Ackley third instead of calling it a ground rule double.  The fan was dressed up exactly like Ichiro and was escorted from the seat.  A lot of twitter and fan buzzing, and "Fake Ichiro" wasn't booted from the stadium.  He did a couple of interviews, more than the real Ichiro will ever do!

Wells gave us insurance with a 2 run shot in the 6th , his first homer with us after arriving in the Fister trade. It turns out we needed it as the Athletics added a Sizemore 2 run homer of their own in the 7th.  It was to straightaway center and surprised a lot of people.  He hit it solid.  And Felix's day was over.  He had another solid outing, 6.1 IP with 9K, 2R, 5 H, and 3 BB.

Then there was more weirdness in the 8th inning as the A's loaded the bases with 1 out. Kurt Suzuki, who had given us huge problems over the years, ended up striking out on a pitch that hit him!  We got out of the inning a batter later... and that was pretty much the ballgame.  We ended up halving the score from yesterday at 4-2 being the final score.

Ate Ginger Chicken Veggie Noodles and my mom joined me for most of the game.  She left in the top of the 7th. 

This is the first time we've won 2 in a row since July 4/5.  The Mariners improved to 12-13 when I attend.  We go for the sweep tomorrow!