12-15, Game Notes

Four in a row! This team is like a runaway train that can’t be stopped! The sweep in Detroit was nice, but these Mariners being able to come into Fenway without Felix or Pineda on the mound, and beat a Boston Red Sox team that has playing much better as of late, is really pretty impressive. Now, with a win tomorrow, after starting the season at 4-11, the Mariners could close out the month of April only two games under .500.

• Jason Vargas wasn’t at his absolute best, but he had an extremely dangerous lineup to face, and he managed to keep the Mariners in the game. He threw a good amount of strikes, missed ten bats, and, per usual, relied heavily on his changeup. When you ignore the Fenway-assisted home run and put a mental asterisk next to the third inning, his overall line really doesn’t seem bad at all.
• So, let’s talk about that third inning. In case you missed it, Darnell McDonald was leading off, and Jason Vargas struck him out swinging with a low, 3-2 change. Or so we thought. Home plate umpire Sam Holbrook had already called it a foul tip and ruled him out, when for some reason, first base umpire Greg Gibson decided to intervene. The way he saw it, the pitch had bounced, and even though replays would show us that it clearly hadn’t, the call was changed to a foul ball. Vargas walked him on the next pitch, and the Red Sox would go on to score two runs in the inning and take the lead. Fortunately, it ended up not mattering, but it does raise the question, why is that the first base umpire’s call to make?
• Chone Figgins had two more hits, while Miguel Olivo and Jack Cust both checked in with doubles off the Green Monster. Until it stops amazing me, I will continue to make a bullet point just for when these three players do well.
• Jamey Wright came through in a big way with yet another 1-2-3 eighth inning, this time against Adrian Gonzalez, Kevin Youkilis, and David Ortiz. I really don’t know how he’s doing this.
• Brendan Ryan is 0 for his last 12, and Milton Bradley is 0 for his last 21. 🙁

We go for five in a row tomorrow, Fister vs. Lackey!