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Mariners Game Recap: M’s Walk Off In Eleven, Even Series

By Ric Dickens

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Jul 7, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano (22) celebrates on his way back to the dugout after hitting a solo-homer against the Detroit Tigers during the fifth inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

7. 62. Final. 6. 63

The Seattle Mariners (39-45) won a thriller against the Detroit Tigers (42-41) Tuesday night, a big win considering the quick turnaround tomorrow afternoon. The game went well into the late night hours, but it was well worth the wait for all those who stayed up, as they got to see the M’s pull out a thrilling 7-6 win and even the series at a game apiece. The Mariners’ bats came out swinging, and the offense backed up their nice showing last night with an even better one tonight. Charlie Furbush (1-1) wiggled his way out of trouble in the top of the 11th to get the win, while Ian Krol (1-1) took the loss for the Tigers.

After a string of brilliant outings for Taijuan Walker, Walker didn’t have his best stuff tonight and the best hitting team in baseball made him pay. Walker allowed five runs on six hits across six innings of work. The 22-year-old flamethrower struck out just 3 Tigers and walked one as well. Walker faced some stiff competition, as the lineup he faced tonight is simply on fire. He was able to keep them at bay for the most part, only allowing six hits, which isn’t bad, but three of those six hits were of the long ball variety. Walker didn’t have his best stuff by any means tonight, but I was impressed that the young right-hander was able to grind it out and keep the M’s in the ballgame. With the M’s winning tonight, the M’s have won six straight games in which Taijuan Walker has toed the rubber, which is impressive.

The M’s tagged the young left-hander Kyle Ryan tonight, with most of the M’s damage coming from the long ball. Ryan allowed five runs on six hits in just 2.2 innings of work. The 23-year-old struck out two and walked one, and surrendered a grand slam to Austin Jackson, followed up by a solo home run from Franklin Gutierrez. The dingers were absolutely huge for the M’s, as the Austin Jackson grand slam turned a 3-0 deficit into a 4-3 lead.

The M’s bats had another impressive showing at the dish, and it is hopefully a sign to come that this offense might be turning this around. Austin Jackson got this baby rolling in the third, when he turned on a breaking ball and put it into the seats in left field for a grand slam. Franklin Gutierrez thought that looked fun, and he decided to do the same thing, putting Kyle Ryan’s offering into the seats in right field for his first home run since being called up. Robinson Canó then got in on the action in the fifth, clubbing a pitch into the center field seats for his 6th of the year. But, Cano wasn’t done then as he sent all of the M’s faithful home happy with a walk off smash that hit the base of the wall, easily scoring Austin Jackson from second and giving the M’s a huge victory.

The Tigers high-powered offense came ready to play yet again, and they constantly put the M’s under pressure all night. In the second inning, Nick Castellanos got the scoring started, hitting a two run home run to center field, scoring Alex Avila. Marc Krauss, freshly picked up off waivers to fill in while Miguel Cabrera is nursing a hamstring injury, followed that with a home run of his own to make it 3-0 Detroit. When the M’s took the lead 5-3 off of Jackson and Gutierrez home runs, Alex Avila answered with a home run of his own, making it a 5-5 as he and J.D. Martinez crossed home plate. The real blow though, came in the eight inning, when embattled reliever Fernando Rodney came into the game with a 6-5 lead. He started off great, getting two quick outs with the first two batters he saw. Then, on an 0-2 pitch he throws a fastball right down the middle, and Yoenis Cespedes doesn’t miss those, and he drove it out of the ballpark to make it 6-6. It ultimately didn’t cost them tonight, but you have to wonder how much longer the M’s are going to stick with the struggling closer.

This was a big time win for the Mariners’, coming back from yesterdays ugly game and getting behind early, to come back is absolutely huge. Austin Jackson had a big hand in the turn around, and so did the bottom of the order with Chris Taylor going 2-3 and Brad Miller coming in and collecting a hit and going 1-1 as well. But ultimately, stars come out when the team needs them most, and while Robby Cano failed in the ninth, he made sure he didn’t in the 11th, and the M’s go home a winner because of it.

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The win tonight and the Astros loss helped the M’s with their standing in the American League West, as they now find themselves nine games back. With tonight’s win the M’s kept pace in the Wild Card standings, as they still find themselves six games back.

The Seattle Mariners (39-45) have a quick turnaround tomorrow, as they conclude the three game series with the Detroit Tigers (42-41) on Wednesday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 12:40 pm from Safeco Field, where the M’s will look to take the series. The M’s will send out veteran J.A. Happ (4-5 3.93 ERA) with the Detroit Tigers countering with Anibal Sanchez (7-7 4.65 ERA) in what could be another slugfest. Root Sports Northwest will carry the game live locally, and MLB.tv subscribers can watch worldwide on connected devices.

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