Extreme highs in Texas
For the second week in a row the Mariners took two out of three from the Texas Rangers, this time at the Ballpark in Arlington. Now if only they could figure out how to beat the White Sox, this week could’ve been a great one.
But I’ll settle for 3-3 on the road.
With inter-league play coming back up this week, the Mariners would like to head into that on a high note, and judging from last week, the offense is finally starting to come around.
As for the pitching? Well that’s another story.
With that, I give you my top ten!
#10: Smoak named offensive player of the week
It’s about time we heard some good news on the Justin Smoak front. Ever since the trip to the Bronx, Smoak has been on fire!
Smoak went .348, with 3 home runs, 8 RBI’s, and scored 6 times. A lot of that output came from the one night in Texas, but still a very impressive week for Smoakie.
#9: Any Pryor big league experience?
What a hell of a debut for Stephen Pryor. Coming in with 2 on and 2 out, and facing the ever dangerous Paul Konerko, Pryor went fastball four times in a row, striking out the Sox slugger.
The importance of this? His very first pitch in the bigs was registered at 100 MPH! He followed that up with three more heaters at 99, 99, and 98 MPH respectively.
I think we got a keeper.
Offensive Player of the Week. Justin Smoak hit two 3-run homers in Texas on Wednesday night. (photo rjg.com)
#8: Free baseball in Chicago
What a roller coaster ride this one was. The lead seemed to change hands every half inning, but the M’s found a way to finally win it in the 10th, from a go ahead double by John Jaso.
Hisashi Iwukuma picked up the save, and the M’s won 10-8, snapping a nice little losing streak against the Sox this year.
#7: Ichiro back at the top
Finally M’s skipper Eric Wedge decided to yank Ichiro out of the three spot, and put him back where he belongs at the top of the order.
This should help him get back on track, well should at least help him out of hitting into so many double plays!
#6: Guti starts rehab play in Tacoma
Less than a week after the Mariners said their CF would start an extended spring training at their facility in Peoria Arizona, Franklin Gutierrez was suited up and ready to begin his rehab assignment with the Tacoma Rainiers!
Let’s hope this rehab stint gets his eye back on the baseball, and he will be able to contribute to the offense when he returns back to Seattle.
#5: Saunders gets worked over by the ball
Had it not been for the error on Michael Saunders‘ face, the M’s could’ve taken two out of three in Chicago. This really looked like it hurt more than just his pride too.
Thank god for his game in Texas on Wednesday, or I’m sure he would have gotten a lot more hate mail from this one.
#4: Ichiro goes deep twice in one game!
This probably should be the number 1 this week, but since the M’s decided to play a little ball in Texas on Wednesday, this drops to number 4.
Ichiro now has doubled his home run output since being put atop the order again! For more on this check out my My oh My!column this week.
See, I told you it wasn't a typo. (photo facebook.com/northwestportsbeat)
#3: M’s offense finally is coming around
Well half the time this week it was, the other half, it was back to normal for the M’s.
They did score 49 runs this week though, thanks in part to their 21 run output against the Rangers. We did outscore the Rangers and White Sox 49-34 for the week though.
#2: Offense will be key during inter-league
With the scoring up, the M’s will need to harnass whatever power they had in Texas for the upcoming week with the battles of the two L.A. clubs.
The numbers were down in Chicago, but they still had a lot of fight in them, especially with their “refuse to lose” game on Saturday.
#1: This is not a typo, M’s 21 – Rangers 8
This was crazy, just plain crazy. Two 8 run innings, en route to a blow-out victory.
In the Rangers defense, 8 runs is still a lot to score in a ballgame, but just not when your pitchers decide to not show up for work!
Take this one in Mariners fans. It may be a very long time until we see one like this again.
Up next for the M’s, 3 in Anaheim, before making the trek to Chavez Ravine to take on the Dodgers.
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