Seattle Mariners Get Big Win In James Paxton’s Return
By Dan Hughes
A day after the newest additions to the Seattle Mariners lineup were the talk of the town – despite going a combined 0-for-7, the news Saturday was the return of LHP James Paxton to the rotation.
Paxton was a bit shaky in spots, but otherwise looked really solid in his return from a lat strain suffered in only his second start of the season (April 8). He had command of his fastball which topped 98 MPH at times, his curve was working and he appeared unfazed, despite taking a comeback liner off his thigh at one point. He did not earn the win, but pitched 4.1 IP allowing two earned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five.
Dustin Ackley and Robinson Cano went deep for the Mariners as the offense carried the day against the AL East-leading Baltimore Orioles in the 6-3 win.
Aug 2, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano (22) is congratulated by Dustin Ackley (13) and Austin Jackson (16) after hitting a three-run home run in the fifth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Mariners defeated the Orioles 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
Cano’s three-run shot in the 5th inning – which gave the Mariners the lead – was only the 8th of the year for Can. But he is typically a strong 2nd-half hitter, so perhaps this will become a regular sight down the stretch.
Ackley continued his hot streak as he collected another three hits and scored three times. Newly-acquired Austin Jackson also collected two hits and scored twice.
The new-look top four in the lineup combined to hit 8-for-18 (.444) with all six of the runs scored. Something Mariners fans may have been surprised to see. Even more surprising may be that the Mariners only struck out twice in the game.
Seattle is now just two games behind Toronto for the 2nd AL Wild-Card spot.
The Mariners hope to keep the good times rolling with a matinee finale this morning. Hisashi Iwakuma takes the hill opposite Chris Tillman.
BOX SCORE
Batting
Seattle
AB | R | H | RBI | HR | BB | K | SB | LOB | AVG | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Austin JacksonCF | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .273 |
Dustin AckleyLF | 5 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .258 |
Robinson Canó2B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .330 |
Kendrys Morales1B | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .222 |
Kyle Seager3B | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .275 |
Logan MorrisonDH | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .209 |
Chris TaylorSS | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .375 |
Endy ChávezRF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .256 |
Jesús SucreC | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .167 |
Totals | 37 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 11 |
Batting
2B – D Ackley (22, M Gonzalez)
HR – D Ackley (6, 3rd inning off M Gonzalez 0 on, 1 Out), R Cano (8, 5th inning off M Gonzalez 2 on, 1 Out)
RBI – D Ackley (37), R Cano 3 (62), K Morales 2 (23)
2-out RBI – K Morales 2
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out – K Seager 1, J Sucre 2
GIDP – C Taylor
Team LOB – 8
Fielding
E – J Paxton (1, throw); Y Medina (1, field)
DP – 1 (C Taylor-R Cano-K Morales)
Baltimore
AB | R | H | RBI | HR | BB | K | SB | LOB | AVG | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nick MarkakisRF | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | .282 |
Manny Machado3B | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .275 |
Adam JonesCF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | .287 |
Nelson CruzDH | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | .262 |
Delmon YoungLF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .321 |
Chris DavisPH-1B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .196 |
J.J. HardySS | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .273 |
Steve Pearce1B-LF | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .289 |
Caleb JosephC | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .209 |
David LoughPH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .206 |
Jonathan Schoop2B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .210 |
Ryan FlahertyPH | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .209 |
Totals | 34 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 14 |
Batting
2B – M Machado (13, J Paxton); C Joseph (7, B Maurer)
HR – C Joseph (4, 5th inning off J Paxton 0 on, 0 Out)
RBI – A Jones (68), C Joseph (13), R Flaherty (17)
2-out RBI – R Flaherty
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out – N Markakis 2, M Machado 1, D Young 1, C Davis 1
GIDP – A Jones
Team LOB – 8
Fielding
DP – 1 (M Machado-J Schoop-S Pearce)
Pitching
Seattle
IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | HR | WHIP | ERA | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
James Paxton | 4.1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0.92 | 2.76 |
Dominic Leone(W, 4-2) | 1.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1.24 | 2.18 |
Brandon Maurer(HLD, 4) | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1.41 | 5.01 |
Yoervis Medina(HLD, 18) | 0.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1.17 | 2.39 |
Charlie Furbush(HLD, 15) | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.21 | 4.02 |
Fernando Rodney | 1.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.21 | 2.22 |
Baltimore
IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | HR | WHIP | ERA | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Miguel González(L, 5-6) | 5.0 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1.43 | 3.93 |
Brad Brach | 1.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.12 | 3.12 |
Brian Matusz | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.49 | 3.92 |
Tommy Hunter | 1.1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.24 | 3.86 |
T.J. McFarland | 0.1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.45 | 3.27 |
HBP – R Cano (by T McFarland)
Pitches-strikes – J Paxton 83-48; D Leone 19-14; B Maurer 20-11; Y Medina 16-11; C Furbush 4-3; F Rodney 18-13; M Gonzalez 91-60; B Brach 21-13; B Matusz 28-17; T Hunter 15-9; T McFarland 11-7
Ground balls-fly balls – J Paxton 7-1; D Leone 1-3; B Maurer 0-2; Y Medina 1-0; C Furbush 0-1; F Rodney 3-1; M Gonzalez 9-6; B Brach 1-3; B Matusz 0-2; T Hunter 2-1; T McFarland 1-1
Batters faced – J Paxton 19; D Leone 5; B Maurer 4; Y Medina 3; C Furbush 1; F Rodney 6; M Gonzalez 23; B Brach 5; B Matusz 5; T Hunter 4; T McFarland 4
Game Details
Game Time: 3:38.
Umpires: HP–Clint Fagan. 1B–Tim Timmons. 2B–Tim Welke. 3B–Todd Tichenor.
Weather: 78 degrees, Mostly Cloudy.
Wind: 6 mph, Right to Left.
Attendance: 36,508.