From Stem to Stern: Angelic pitching duels

The Mariners went to LA for a weekend series after sweeping aside the Oakland A’s. I was really hoping that things would pick up and M’s could ride the momentum they had and scrape out a series win. It didn’t happen. The Mariner’s pitchers did there jobs giving up just 4 runs in the series, but the offense couldn’t come through as they lost 2 of 3 to the Halos.

Captain: Mike Carp (5 of 12 (.417) double, HR)
Walkin the Plank: Franklin Gutierrez (1 of 9 (.111) no extra base hits)
Impressive: Jason Vargas (after 4 straight bad starts: 6 IP, 0 ER, 3 SO, just 1 BB)
Depressing: Justin Smoak (Didn’t play. He looked like he was turning it around before the thumb injuries.)

Mariners can’t score in 10 innings

When Dan Cortes gave up the game winning single to Vernon Wells in the 10th, giving the Angels the 1-0 win over the Mariners in the series opener, there was a certain degree of inevitability to it. The Mariners offense just wasn’t going to score that night, and so it seemed like all we were doing was waiting for the Halos to push across a run so that the game could end.

Beavan breaks Pineda’s record

Earlier this season Michael Pineda set a Mariner’s record by starting his career with 5 consecutive quality starts (at least 6 innings, no more than 3 earned runs). That record didn’t last long, as fellow rookie Blake Beavan broke that record on Saturday with his 6th such quality start. So far, Beavan made the loss of Doug Fister seem fairly inconsequential.

Felix, like its 2010 all over again 

You have to feel bad for Felix Hernandez. He pitched a complete game 4-hitter, and still lost 2-1 because the Mariner’s offense couldn’t manage to give him any support. Watching that game reminded me a lot of watching Felix pitch in 2010, when he won the Cy Young despite only having 13 wins because the Mariners offense was, for the lack of another word, offensive.