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Logan Morrison’s Clutch Homer Keeps Mariners In Playoff Hunt

By Dan Hughes

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The night started off so promising for Seattle. The Angels were resting their starters, Kansas City had the night off, Oakland had already lost. Oh yeah, and Felix Hernandez was on the mound.

By the time Felix left the game after 7 innings, it was clear that he would get his 13th no decision of the season and 3rd in a row.

Then, with two outs in the top of the 9th, it appeared likely that the Mariners would either play extra innings or perhaps lose and not take advantage of the Oakland loss.

Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Logan Morrison had other ideas. His 3-run homer in the 9th gave the M’s a much-needed confidence boost as the Mariners beat the Angels 3-1 to split the four-game series and move to within one game of the 2nd AL Wild-Card spot.

Felix was brilliant, as per usual. Seven innings, three hits, two walks and 11 strikeouts, giving him a new season-high 236 K’s (232 in 2010).

But the scoreless drought went into the 9th. Kendrys Morales‘ two-out single got things started. James Jones ran for Morales and his twitchiness got Kevin Jepsen to throw an attempted pickoff move away, putting Jones on 2nd.

Kyle Seager was intentionally walked. I had just said on Twitter in the last inning how I hated intentional walks. But this one, I loved.

As Logan Morrison stepped in, I tweeted this out to Mariners fans.

He did just that. LoMo homered to right, just clearing the wall to give the Mariners a 3-0 lead.

Fernando Rodney came in for the 9th and as usual, made things interesting. Giving up a solo homer to Hank Conger and committing an error on what would’ve been the 2nd out before finally retiring the side, shooting the arrow and earning his Mariners franchise-record 46th save of the season.

At 82 wins, the M’s are guaranteed their first winning season since 2009.

The M’s now head to Houston for a three-game series with the Astros.

#HuntForTealOctober

BOX SCORE

Batting

Seattle

 
ABRHRBIHRBBKSBLOBAVG
Austin JacksonCF401000001.262
Dustin AckleyLF300000101.247
Robinson Canó2B401000002.318
Kendrys MoralesDH401000001.222
James JonesPR-DH010000000.252
Kyle Seager3B310001000.272
Logan Morrison1B412310000.251
Chris DenorfiaRF200000000.208
Endy ChávezPH-RF200000101.277
Mike ZuninoC300000100.196
Chris TaylorSS301000200.288
Totals3236311506

Batting

2B – R Cano (35, W LeBlanc)

HR – L Morrison (9, 9th inning off K Jepsen 2 on, 2 Out)

RBI – L Morrison 3 (33)

2-out RBI – L Morrison 3

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out – D Ackley 1, K Morales 1

GIDP – R Cano

Team LOB – 4

Fielding

E – F Rodney (1, field)

LA Angels

 
ABRHRBIHRBBKSBLOBAVG
Tony CampanaCF500000403.250
Gordon BeckhamSS400000101.222
Brennan BoeschRF302001010.179
C.J. CronDH300001202.269
Efrén Navarro1B400000004.245
Grant Green2B400000300.287
Hank CongerC211112100.223
Luis Jiménez3B301000102.161
Kole CalhounPH100000000.282
Shawn O’MalleyLF401000212.333
Totals331511414214

Batting

HR – H Conger (4, 9th inning off F Rodney 0 on, 1 Out)

RBI – H Conger (25)

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out – T Campana 1, C Cron 1, E Navarro 2

Team LOB – 9

Running

SB – B Boesch (3, 2nd base off F Hernandez/M Zunino), S O’Malley (1, 2nd base off T Wilhelmsen/M Zunino)

Fielding

E – G Beckham (13, field); K Jepsen (1, throw)

DP – 1 (G Beckham-G Green-E Navarro)

Pitching

Seattle

 
IPHRERBBKHRWHIPERA
Félix Hernández7.030021100.912.07
Charlie Furbush0.11000101.193.57
Tom Wilhelmsen(W, 3-2)0.20002101.012.01
Fernando Rodney(SV, 46)1.01110111.342.70

LA Angels

 
IPHRERBBKHRWHIPERA
Wade LeBlanc5.13000301.255.24
Joe Thatcher0.20000002.145.79
Mike Morin1.01000001.112.25
Fernando Salas1.00000101.043.40
Kevin Jepsen(L, 0-2)1.02331111.052.71

IBB – B Boesch (by T Wilhelmsen); K Seager (by K Jepsen)

HBP – D Ackley (by J Thatcher)

Pitches-strikes – F Hernandez 97-68; C Furbush 8-6; T Wilhelmsen 16-6; F Rodney 13-8; W LeBlanc 72-48; J Thatcher 4-3; M Morin 14-11; F Salas 15-10; K Jepsen 21-12

Ground balls-fly balls – F Hernandez 11-0; C Furbush 1-0; T Wilhelmsen 0-0; F Rodney 2-2; W LeBlanc 8-5; J Thatcher 1-0; M Morin 2-2; F Salas 1-1; K Jepsen 2-1

Batters faced – F Hernandez 26; C Furbush 2; T Wilhelmsen 4; F Rodney 5; W LeBlanc 19; J Thatcher 2; M Morin 4; F Salas 3; K Jepsen 6

Game Details

Game Time: 3:08.

Umpires: HP–Bob Davidson. 1B–Chris Conroy. 2B–Jordan Baker. 3B–Jerry Meals.

Weather: 76 degrees, Clear.

Wind: 8 mph, Out to Right.

Attendance: 40,835.

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