[DD Martin]

Week 2 Monday April 20th through Sunday April 26th 1970

We return from our 6 game tour of the PNW to head home to our dilapidated stadium in Seattle. The crews are still trying to get the old park ready for the home opener and it was a good thing we had Monday off. The city of Seattle is working hard to overcome all the stumbling blocks in getting the stadium built. The goal is still to have it ready by opening day in April 1972. Two years at this place is going to be rough and could cause a lot of players in the off-season to not want to sign with us in free agency or even sign existing players to contracts. But that will be a tale for another day. With the off-day on Monday we will face the Vancouver Mounties (1-5) for 3 games starting Tuesday and then welcome in the San Francisco Quakes (5-2) for 3 games over the weekend.

Vancouver Mounties (1-5) vs Seattle Tridents (4-2)

So the Mounties come in liking their wounds after struggling in the Bay City losing 3 of 4. They will be looking to rebound but come in with the 23rd rated offense and 19th rated pitching staff (defense is pretty bad too at 23rd) but it is early. They have only scored 13 runs in 7 games (worse than Tacoma!). They are 1-3 on the road this season and have lost the first two games to the Tridents last week.

Probably Pitching Matchups
James Martin (0-0 3.86 ERA) vs Julian Brown (0-0 0.00 ERA)
Ryan Conner (1-0 2.25 ERA) vs Wil Acevedo (0-0 4.50 ERA)
Wes Somerwille (1-1 4.97 ERA) vs Alberto Villa (0-1 2.57 ERA)

Game 1 (7)
Starting Lineups
Van - RF Seaton, CF McBride, 1B Trevino, 2B Rubio, LF Gargano, 3B Gutierrez, C Davis, SS Martinez, P Acevedo
Sea - LF Collins, 2B Marquez, LF Carmona, 1B Reed, 3B Pena, RF Jeoffrey, SS Weber, C Pardo, P Martin

So the tricky Mounties pulled a fast one and with the day off moved Acevedo into the starting for our home opener. We jumped out to a 2-0 in the bottom of the first sending the 24,738 at Sick Stadium into a frenzy. It was the only highlight of the night. Vancouver got 1 back each of the 3rd and 4th innings to tied the game at 2-2. In the top of the 7th Mounties SS Martinez hit a 2-run homer into the flickering night stadium lights and it was basically over. Cesar Morin pitched the last 2 innings for us and gave up 3 hits and 2 unearned runs. Mounties 6-2
Collins 2-5 R SB Martin &IP 6H 4R 3BB 2K 1HRA

A - 24,738 T - 2:51
POTG - SP Will Acevedo Vancouver

Game 2 (8)
Lineups
Van - RF Seaton, CF McBride, 2B Rubio, C Bostic, LF Gargano, 3B Trevino, 1B de Alejandro, SS Martinez, P Villa
Sea - CF Collins, 2B Marquez, LF Carmona, 1B Reed, 3B Pena, RF McDonald, SS Weber, C Pardo, P Conner

We started off fast again and scored 2 in the 1st inning on Collins leading off with a walk, stole 2B, Marquez walked. Carmona moved the runners to 2nd and 3rd on a sacrifice bunt. Mr. Clutch 1B Rob Reed stepped up to the plate and promptly struck out, but never fear Angelo Pena picked up the mantle and stroked a 2-RBI single. We led 3-0 heading into the top of the 8th when the wheels fell off for SP Rob Conner. Conner gave up 5 runs on 6 hits including a grand slam to 2B Jesus Rubio and the Mounties took a 5-3 lead. 2B Rafeal Marquez then drilled the 2nd pitch he saw to start off the 8th with a solo home run. Then Rob Reed hit a 1-out double and then back to back singles by PH Carl Jeoffrey and RF Mike McDonald tied the game at 5-5.

For some reason Trident Manager Brian Wilde left Conner in the game after the rough 8th inning and he gave the team 10 innings (139 pitches). Seattle then saw Dan Henderson coax a full count (8 pitch) walk and LF Carlos Carmona hit a double with Henderson holding at 3rd. An intentional walk to 1B Mr Clutch Reed then brought up Danny Rivera with the bases loaded. Then the most dramatic thing happened. Before RP Caleb Ragan threw a pitch to Rivera, he was called for a balk then forced in Henderson and the Tridents win 6-5 in 11 innings.
2B Marquez 2-3 DB, HR 2R RBI, 3B Pena 2-3 2RBI, SP Conner 10IP 10H 5R 1BB 4K, P Gorman 1IP 0H 0BB 0K W 1-0

A - 16,212 T - #;33
Player of the Game - Rafael Marquez Seattle

Who would toe the rubber for Vancouver in the rubber game of the series? Brown who was skipped or #1 SP Joe Anderson who was 0-2 4.15 ERA. The answer much to our chagrin was Joe Anderson…..

Game 3 (9)
Lineups
Van - RF Seaton, CF McBride, 2B Rubio, C Bostic, LF Gargano, 1B Weigel, 3B Trevino, SS Martinez, P Anderson
Sea - CF Collins, 2B Marquez, LF Carmona, 1B Reed, 3B Pena, RF Jeoffrey, SS Weber, C Salazar, P Somerville

SP Wes Somerville didn’t pitch poorly going 7IP, but he gave up 2 runs including C Paul Bostic’s 2nd home run of the season in the 6th inning. The Tridents offered little resistance as they mustered 7 hits off Anderson and Mounties RP Mike Yellen cleaned up the last 2 outs of the game. 2-0 Mounties as we leave the ballpark with our tail between our legs losing our first series of the season. P Somerwille 7IP 8H 2R L 1-2

A- 20,272 T - 2:51
Player of the Game - SP Joe Anderson Vancouver



San Francisco Quakes (7-4) vs Seattle Tridents (5-4)

It’s a battle of the early going teams at the top of the NAL West as the Quakes invade taking on the local nine for a weekend series. For the Quakes they are led by their NAL leading offense with the top club batting average in the circuit at 288. The also have a solid group of starting pitchers that so far have a 2.68 ERA which is ranked 3rd compared to Seattle’s 8th place ranking of 3.57. But if the game goes to the bullpens the Seattle firemen have a 0.79 ERA compared to the Quakes 3.18. The Quakes are led by LF Luis Garcia (378/440/1062 2-5), and the slow starting RF Jorge Osorio (216/216/513 0-2). Quakes closer Joe Woodley has 3 saves so far this season matching Seattle’s top reliever Kyle Gorman.

This is the first ever meeting between the clubs and San Francisco’s road record stands at 2-1 on the season, while Seattle is 1-2 at venerab…vulnerable Sick Stadium.

Probably Pitching Matchups
Mike Wynns (2-0 2.20) vs Chris Jimenez (2-0 0.52)
Jimmy Martin (0-1 4.50) vs Jerry Battaglino (0-2 6.92)
Ryan Conner (1-0 3.50) vs Chris Burke (1-0 3.86)

Game 1 (10)
Lineups
SF - LF Garcia, 1B Malpica, 2B Sanchez, RF Osorio, 3B Pederson, CF Sander, SS Garcia, C Hinojosa, SP Jimenez
Sea - CF Collins, 2B Marquez, LF Carmona, 1B Reed, 3B Pena, RF McDonald, SS Weber, C Pardo, SP Wynns

What looked like a good pitching matchup didn’t materialize as Seattle SP Mike Wynns was rocked in his 4.1 innings worked giving up 12 hits and 7 runs and allowing 2 home runs. Quakes SP Chris Jimenez (3-0) wasn’t at his best but turned in a solid 7 inning of 7 hit 3 run ball to pick up the win. Seattle LF Carlos Carmona hit his 1st home run of the season. With the loss Seattle drops to 5-5 on the season and is now 2 games behind the Quakes in the Western Division. Quakes win 7-3
CF Collins 1-3 2BB SB (12), Carmona 1-4 HR, SS Weber 2-4, C Pardo 2-4

A - 22,038 T 2:57
POTG - RF Jorge Osorio San Francisco (3-5 HR 2R 2 RBI)

Game 2 (11)
Lineups
SF - 2B Sanchez, LF Garcia, SS Garcia, 3B Pederson, 1B Kearbey, RF Pollack, C Edgar, CF Sander, SP Battaglino
Sea - LF Collins, 2B Marquez, 1B Reed, 3B Pena, LF Carmona, RF Henderson, C Pardo, SS Weber, P Martin

Seattle needed a stable pitching night and that is what they got from SP Jimmy Martin. He held the high octane Quakes offense in check over 7 innings despite giving up 10 hits. Kyle Gorman pitched the 9th for his 4th save of the season and James Smith pitched a scoreless 8th. Seattle C Adrian Pardo hit his 1st home run of the season, a 2-run shot in the 2nd inning to give the Tritents a 2-1 lead. They made it 4-2 after 3 innings when 3B Pena hit a 2-run double. Tridents win 5-3 to improve to 6-5 on the season.
P Martin 7IP 10H 3R 2ER 0BB 4K, SS Weber 2-4 R, 3B Pena 1-3 DB 2 RBI, C Pardo 1-4 HR 2RBI

A - 19,942 T - 2:54
POTG - SP Jimmy Martin Seattle

Game 3 (12)
Lineups
SF - LF Garcia, 1B Malpica, 2B Sanchez, RF Osorio, 3B Pederson, CF Sander, SS Garcia, C Edgar, SP Burke
Sea - LF Collins, 2B Marquez, LF Carmona, 1B Reed, 3B Pena, RF Jeoffrey, SS Weber, C Salazar, SP Conner

The rubber game of the series started off with a bang as SF 2B Leo Sanchez hit a 2-run home run of SP Ryan Conner. The Tridents came back in the bottom half of the 1st inning with their own 2-run shot as 1B Rob Reed hit his 2nd of the season. That’s all of the scoring in the first 6 innings, but things got interesting again in the 7th inning. Conner got 2 quick outs and then things unraveled as he gave up a single to Luis Garcia, then walked Curtis Malpica. On an 0-2 pitch Leo Sanchez singled and as the throw wasn’t cut off it also wasn’t in time to get Garcia at the plate. The runners moved up to 2nd and 3rd on the throw home. Jorge Osorio was intentionally walked to load the bases. Then Byran Pederson forced a full count walk to drive in another run to make it 4-2 Quakes. CF Sander flyed out to LF to end the inning but the damage was done. Could Seattle copy the first inning and find a couple of runs for themselves? The answer was a resounding YES! Carl Jeoffrey walked and then out of nowhere SS Adam Weber smashed a 2-run home run to once again tie the game 4-4. The game went to extra innings and the Quakes got a runner aboard on an error by RP Cesar Morin, but didn’t do anything with it. Bottom of the 10th with one out, LF Carlos Carmona became a Seattle legend as he hit a home run of the evening to walk off a 5-4 Tridents win in 10 innings.
LF Carmona 2-4 2HR 2R RBI, SS Weber 1-4 HR 2 RBI, 1B Reed 2-4 HR 2 RBI,

A - 19,698 T - 3:07
POTG - Leo Sanchez San Francisco

Weekly Summary
Well a 3-3 week at home isn’t what we had hoped for, and we had to rally for 2 straight to get to that mark. With the win we are effectively tied for 1st with the Quakes in the West, but have played 2 less games so we have the percentage point edge YAY!!!

1B Rod Reed seems to like hitting at home (maybe he will re-sign) going 8-22, but he only drove in 2 RBI’s with that lone home run. LF Carmona was 8-24 333 and had 2 doubles and 2 home runs to go along with 4 RBI’s and 3 runs scored. SS Adam Weber who we still have concerns about his bat, also went 8-24 and blasted a home run along with a double.

On the pitching side of things, Kyle Gorman has appeared in 6 games on the season and has yet to be scored upon. He is also a perfect 4-4 in save opportunities.

Minor leagues - All 3 minor league teams picked up 3 wins this week which was a sign of delight after watching Tacoma and El Paso combine to go 0-12 last week.

Next week we end the month with our first series against a team outside of the NAL Western Division as the Kansas City Greyhounds (3-10) come to town on Tuesday. The latter half of the week sees us venture off the West Coast as we head to Houston to take on the Oilers (7-5).