Mariners Lose Ground, Hisashi Iwakuma Gets Pounded

On a day where the Kansas City Royals beat the Detroit Tigers to improve their Wild Card lead on the Mariners, a team known for its pitching decided to implode on the mound once again.

Hisashi Iwakuma looks like his arm is dead and he’s worn out, with another poor showing. He allowed 4 earned in 4.1 innings pitched while walking 3 batters. In his last 5 starts he has almost doubled his walk total for the entire season.

The Mariners offense had enough going against Collin McHugh, who pitched 6 innings of 3 run ball. But then came the Mariners ‘Pen, one of the sturdiest parts of the team all season, that decided to crumble. Dominic Leone and Charlie Furbush both gave up a run a piece before Yoervis Medina gave up two runs off of 5 hits in just 1.1 innings.

The top 5 in the Mariners order: Austin Jackson, Dustin Ackley, Robinson Cano, Kyle Seager, and Kendrys Morales went a combined 2-for-20 with 6 strikeouts.

Box Score:

Seattle	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Jackson, A, CF	4	0	0	0	0	2	1	.262
Ackley, LF	4	0	0	0	0	1	0	.247
Cano, 2B	4	0	1	0	0	1	0	.320
Seager, 3B	4	0	1	0	0	1	1	.273
Morales, K, DH	4	0	0	0	0	1	1	.217
Morrison, 1B	3	1	1	0	1	0	1	.252
Saunders, M, RF	3	2	2	2	0	0	1	.267
Zunino, C	3	0	1	0	0	2	1	.200
Miller, B, SS	3	0	1	0	0	1	1	.213
Totals	32	3	7	2	1	9	7	.244

Houston	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Grossman, LF	4	1	1	0	1	2	4	.227
Altuve, 2B	4	2	2	1	1	0	1	.345
Dominguez, 3B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.215
Carter, 1B	3	0	0	0	1	2	2	.233
Singleton, 1B	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	.169
Fowler, DH	4	1	1	0	1	2	5	.273
Presley, RF	5	1	3	2	0	0	4	.256
Castro, Ja, C	5	0	1	1	0	3	5	.223
Marisnick, CF	5	2	2	3	0	3	5	.250
Petit, G, 3B-2B	4	0	2	0	0	2	1	.284
Villar, J, SS	3	1	2	0	1	0	2	.211
Totals	38	8	14	7	5	15	30	.242

BATTING
HR: Saunders, M (7, 5th inning off McHugh, 1 on, 1 out).
TB: Cano; Zunino; Saunders, M 5; Seager; Morrison; Miller, B.
RBI: Saunders, M 2 (30).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Zunino.
GIDP: Miller, B.
Team RISP: 0-for-2.
Team LOB: 3.FIELDING
E: Cano (9, fielding).

BATTING
2B: Presley (6, Iwakuma), Altuve (45, Iwakuma).
HR: Marisnick (3, 7th inning off Medina, 2 on, 2 out).
TB: Marisnick 5; Villar, J 2; Castro, Ja; Petit, G 2; Presley 4; Grossman; Altuve 3; Fowler.
RBI: Altuve (56), Presley 2 (19), Marisnick 3 (19), Castro, Ja (55).
2-out RBI: Marisnick 3; Castro, Ja.
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Presley; Grossman 2; Petit, G; Marisnick 2.
Team RISP: 4-for-20.
Team LOB: 11.BASERUNNING
SB: Villar, J (17, 2nd base off Leone/Zunino), Presley (5, 2nd base off Medina/Zunino).
CS: Altuve (9, 2nd base by Leone/Zunino).FIELDING
DP: 2 (Villar, J-Altuve-Carter, Singleton).

Seattle	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Iwakuma(L, 14-9)	4.1	6	4	4	3	8	0	3.54
Smith, C	0.2	0	0	0	0	2	0	0.00
Leone	1.1	2	1	1	1	1	0	2.25
Furbush	0.1	1	1	1	0	1	0	3.76
Medina	1.1	5	2	2	1	3	1	2.87
Totals	8.0	14	8	8	5	15	1	3.12

Houston	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
McHugh(W, 11-9)	6.0	4	3	3	1	6	1	2.73
Chapman, K(H, 4)	0.2	1	0	0	0	0	0	5.21
Veras(H, 5)	1.1	1	0	0	0	1	0	3.89
Sipp	1.0	1	0	0	0	2	0	3.19
Totals	9.0	7	3	3	1	9	1	4.11

WP: Iwakuma, Medina.
IBB: Carter (by Iwakuma), Altuve (by Leone).
Pitches-strikes: Iwakuma 88-51, Smith, C 7-6, Leone 24-11, Furbush 8-6, Medina 34-22, McHugh 86-57, Chapman, K 9-6, Veras 15-10, Sipp 18-11.
Groundouts-flyouts: Iwakuma 4-1, Smith, C 0-0, Leone 1-1, Furbush 0-0, Medina 1-0, McHugh 5-4, Chapman, K 1-1, Veras 0-0, Sipp 0-0.
Batters faced: Iwakuma 23, Smith, C 2, Leone 6, Furbush 2, Medina 10, McHugh 22, Chapman, K 3, Veras 4, Sipp 4.
Inherited runners-scored: Smith, C 2-0, Furbush 1-0, Medina 2-2, Veras 1-0.
Umpires: HP: D.J. Reyburn. 1B: Dan Bellino. 2B: Brian O’Nora. 3B: Hunter Wendelstedt.
Weather: 73 degrees, roof closed.
Wind: 0 mph, None.
T: 3:29.
Att: 31,466.
Venue: Minute Maid Park.
September 21, 2014
Compiled by MLB Advanced Media