Aardma Takes on Regression…. and Loses

If there’s any such thing as a “statement loss”, this was it. If the Mariners are going to stay in contention, games like today’s can’t continue to happen. It’s tough to compare them, but I’d have to say this game was even more painful than any of the Morrow meltdowns.

After last night’s disaster, in which three relievers combined to give up 10 runs in a 12-4 loss, today’s game seemed like one that was fairly important to win. It looked like that was going to happen, too, right up until the ninth inning. The M’s entered the bottom of the frame with a three run lead and their reliable closer on the mound, David Aardsma.

Unfortunately, it just wasn’t in the cards tonight, and regression took its toll for the second day in a row. Aardsma didn’t have command, and the few pitches he was getting over the plate were right down the middle, and very hittable.

The inning started with a Melvin Mora double, followed by a walk, a single, an infield single, a Jose Lopez error, and finally a two run single that gave the O’s the lead. Lopez’s error was really the back breaker for the Mariners, as it turned what would have been a runner on third, one out situation into a bases loaded, no out situation. It was a tailor made double play, and he muffed it.

The one bright spot in tonight’s game was the great job out of the pen by Garrett Olson. He came in with the bases loaded and nobody out in the seventh inning, with the score at 2-0. He quickly struck out Nick Markakis, and got Ty Wiggington to roll over for a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning. Him being back in the bullpen should be a really good thing for the team.

The Mariners runs came on a Jose Lopez two run bomb in the first, and a throwing error by Orioles shortstop Oscar Salazar in the ninth. Jason Vargas went five innings for the M’s, and although he had little command and walked five, he still missed a lot of bats and was able to strike out six hitters.

Clearly, this was not the ideal way to start a crucial homestand. The Mariners are going to have to forget about this real quick though, as they start a very important four game series against the division rival Texas Rangers tomorrow.

Anything less than a split with Texas is unacceptable, and it would take a series win for us to be in any better shape than we are right now. We’ll have Felix, Bedard, Washburn, and Morrow all going in this series, so if our bullpen can ward off regression for the next four games, we might be in good shape. If not, we’re in some trouble. Only time will tell.

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