Errors spoil a solid night of offense in loss to Houston
9/27 at HOU by TOM HAYDEN
83-74, Eliminated from AL WEST, 2.0 GB in AL WILD CARD ----
The Mariners were unfortunately defeated on Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park in Houston by a final score of 8-4. The M's worked with a 4-2 lead for a good portion of what was an up and down night for Seattle. It was in the sixth inning when errors proved costly, and the 'Stros put up 6 runs because of this. Offensively, the M's came swinging straight out of the get go putting up an impressive 4 early runs in the first 3 innings of the ball game. 1B Adam Lind extended his hitting streak to 8 games, and 2B Robinson Canó had another stellar night at the dish despite the loss. It sure looked like it was going to be another win for these M's to jump to 11 games over .500. On the mound, RHP Felix Hernandez took the ball, and despite the bottom of the first and sixth innings, had a solid night. With the loss, our M's have fallen to 83-74 on the season, but still remain 2.0 games behind the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Wild Card race, as Baltimore fell to Toronto on Tuesday night. With 5 games left to be played until we play game number 162, the Mariners need to avoid losing 2 or more of the remaining games to stay alive. For a more detailed view of our Postseason Scenarios, follow me on twitter (personal- @t_haydz, or my M's account here on @Mariners365.
Offensively in this one, the Mariners were able to put up an impressive 4 runs on 11 hits off of Astros' pitching. 2B Robinson Canó (.300 AVG) had himself a night going 2-for-4 at the dish with a pair of doubles. Robbie now has 33 doubles on the season so far for Seattle. DH Nelson Cruz (.288 AVG) despite dealing with discomfort in his left hand/forearm, also had himself a night going 2-for-4 at the dish with a pair of singles for a RBI. the RBI was Nelson's 102nd of the season, which leads the team. 1B Adam Lind (.237 AVG) had himself a night as well, and extended his hitting streak to 8 straight games with a 2-for-4 night at the plate. Lind connected for a single and his 16th double of the season for his 58th RBI of the year in this one. LF Norichika Aoki (.274 AVG) continues to provide a bat in that lead-off spot as he went 1-for-3 on Tuesday night with his 23rd double of the season for another one of the Mariners' RBI. The RBI was Aoki's 25th of the season. RF Seth Smith (.253 AVG) didn't record a hit in the ball game but did connect for a sacrifice fly ball to deep left field in which gave Seattle a 3-2 lead at the time. The RBI was Smith's 61st of the season so far. SS Ketel Marte (.258 AVG) went 1-for-4 at the dish with a single and a run scored. C Jesus Sucre (.480 AVG) also went 1-for-3 with a run scored and a single. CF Leonys Martin (.243 AVG) and 3B Kyle Seager (.280 AVG) each went 1-for-4 each notching a single in the ball game.
On the mound in this one on Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park, RHP Felix "The KING" Hernandez took the ball for his 24th start of the season. It wasn't the King's sharpest outing of the season as he went 5.2 innings giving up 8 runs on 10 hits (just 4 runs earned) while walking 2 and striking out 3 Astros' on the night. Felix unfortunately suffered his 7th loss of the season and now has an individual W-L record of 11-7 on the season with an ERA of 3.71 in just over 150.0 inning pitched to date. Hernandez is scheduled to start in the final game of the season this Sunday (10/2) in which should be avery important one for these Wild Card hungry Mariners. In relief on Tuesday night, RHP Drew Storen (5.33 ERA) went 0.1 inning tossing a blank frame. RHP Dan Altavilla (0.90 ERA) went 1.0 inning striking out 1 and giving up 1 hit in his outing. LHP Vidal Nuño (3.45 ERA) then tossed the bottom of the eighth inning giving up no hits while striking out 2 'Stros in his outing.
WHAT'S NEXT? :
The series finale! The Mariners will look to take the series from these Astros on Wednesday afternoon in what will be an early one for a weekday. LHP flamethrower James Paxton will take the ball for the M's making his 20th start even of the season so far for Seattle, and what is actually scheduled to be his last of the 2016 regular season. Paxton (5-7, 3.68 ERA) and the M's are set and ready to take on HOU RHP Doug Fister (12-12, 4.59 ERA)! Be sure to catch all of the action on ROOT Sports NW for watching or listen in on 710 ESPN Seattle Radio! First pitch start time is scheduled for 11:10 AM PAC, 2:10 PM ET!
This is Tom Hayden signing off saying Go Mariners! Stay #TrueToTheBlue as our M's #KeepFighting for the PostSEAson.
