Mariners outlast Rangers in extras, 4-3

The first game of seven straight in Texas is in the books. You guessed it, M’s nation – it’s another one-run victory.

It’s also the ninth extra-innings win in ten chances. Despite finishing 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position, the Mariners pulled out a 4-3 victory while out-hitting the Rangers by eight.

The struggling offense picked up from where it’s left off through the game’s first half. With a lot of weak contact and bad BABIP luck, the M’s offense was annoying to watch once again.

The sixth inning looked to be the time the Mariners’ sleepy bats would finally break out. Three straight hits opened the frame and the bases were juiced with nobody retired. However, the Mariners continue to struggle clearing the bases in these situations. Dee Gordon did the bare minimum, grounding a double play fielder’s choice and one measly run out of it.

On the pitching side, Wade LeBlanc quietly got things done with another solid start. Since becoming a starter in May, this was Wade’s eighth start going six or more innings and his 14th time allowing three earned runs or less!

Then for some reason, Scott Servais pulled him after just 82 pitches and a two-hitter through 6.1 innings. But an Adam “Warren-ty” was needed in this one as both he and fellow deadline acquisition, Zach Duke, helped choke the lead away and waste a stellar LeBlanc start. Luckily Alex Colome stranded a bases loaded, one-out jam that inning to preserve the tie. Boy, would that matter later.

This lone-star affair dragged on to the 12th inning with a battle of the bullpens. Something finally gave when in the top of the 12th, Ryon Healy was the extra-inning hero for the second time this season. Ryon’s seeing-eye grounder drove in Mitch Haniger and the Mariners never looked back.

Despite Edwin Diaz allowing the tying run in scoring position with one away, he plowed through for his 42nd save and win number 65 for the club. Thanks to an off-day by the A’s, the Mariners gained a half-game on them and are now two games out of the AL’s second wild card.

With the A’s set to play the Dodgers, there is a great opportunity for the Mariners to reclaim the playoff spot they had held on to for so long.

Despite the struggles, something is going right when you’re 9-1 in extras. The concern is that it took you twelve innings to score four runs against a cellar dweller.

Hopefully this loss won’t come in poor timing as much of the bullpen was used tonight and tomorrow’s starter, Felix Hernandez, has struggled to go more than five innings this season. Hopefully he can out-duel the “Big Sexy” Bartolo Colon tomorrow and give his bullpen a rest.