[Prodigal Son]

5/15/2012
Game Commentary

The Mariners head into game two against the Red Sox in good shape. All pitchers are rested enough to pitch, although Oswalt, Venters, and Sherrill are a little tired.

Because the staff is so well-rested, The Coach puts in Noesi to start instead of Beavan. This is because Beavan, being the team's only true starter, is a good guy to save for another day in case the staff gets used a lot today. Besides, Beaven threw too many pitches (60+) his last start and could use an extra day of rest. Noesi has been struggling lately and will be on a very short leash.

An Uggla single and Brendan Ryan double put the Mariners up 1-0 after the top of the first inning.

Noesi gives up a leadoff single. The Coach considers pulling him with three more LHB's due up, but with the 1-0 lead and with wanting a day of rest for his two best LHP's, he decides not to. (The team really needs another good LHP.) But Crawford is thrown out stealing second base and Noesi works a scoreless frame.

An Uggla two-run homer in the third inning puts Seattle up 3-0 and makes The Coach happy that he decided to stick with Noesi instead of burning up a higher pitcher in the first inning.

Crawford, Ellsbury, Gonzalez, and Ortiz (all LHB) are up in the bottom of the third. Given the 3-0 lead, The Coach decides to take a risk and see if he can get by with LHP Jason Vargas, an LL. Vargas does record two outs but ends up with runners on the corners with two outs. This may be the most important AB of the game, so The Coach goes to HL Craig Kimbrel, who gets a pop-up out to end the inning.

Seattle picks up one more in the top of the fourth to go up 4-0. Kimbrel only threw three pitches, so he stays in and needs just seven more pitches to retire the side. Now if Seattle can score another run, it can go to LL's without worrying about it. But they cannot do so in the top of the fifth, so The Coach decides to leave Kimbrel in with the top of the Sox order due up. Kimbrel makes it through the inning but gives up one run to make it 4-1.

Seattle responds with another run to make it 5-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth. With the bottom of the order due up and with it being later in the game, The Coach brings in LL Kevin Millwood. Unfortunately, he records one strikeout and then promptly surrenders two runs. Back to the 'pen! On comes HL Brandon League, who strands a runner and holds on to a 5-3 lead. The Sox are making Seattle earn every bit of this game...

With the game still close, League stays on for the 7th. He gives up one run. 5-4. Ouch, tough game.

Just when it seems that Seattle will have to burn every arm up today, the Mariners offense blows the game up with a five-spot in the top of the eighth and two more in the ninth. LL Erasmo Ramirez tosses the last two frames to end it.

Comments: Ruthless game. Boston just wouldn't go away. Had Millwood been able to keep the lead, it would have been another great day of rest. Anyway, while Seattle had to burn up two HL's, at least it did so in a victory. Using two HL's isn't bad, but this game stung because the team had opportunities to blow it open and save those arms. Also, Kimbrel threw "just" 27 pitches (not bad for 2.1 IP) and League just 22, so League should be available tomorrow and Kimbrel probably could go tomorrow but should get at least one day off. Considering HL's Kelley and Venters weren't used at all, there should be plenty of firepower available on staff tomorrow, especially with Oswalt getting the day off as well. The offensive explosion that allowed Erasmo to finish the game was pretty important.