The Seattle Mariners (8-10) pounded out a season-high 15 hits in support of starter Jason Vargas and three relievers to snap a season-worst, four-game losing streak with a 7-4 victory over the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park Tuesday. Michael Saunders starred for the Mariners with a 3-RBI night, and Ichiro produced three more hits and swiped two bases.
Getting a rare start at first base, Alex Liddi also had a huge game, going 3-for-5 (career high in hits) with a home run, his first of the season, and a stolen base.
Vargas (3-1) allowed four runs on six hits, striking out four and walking one in earning his third victory. Brandon League came on in the ninth and notched his sixth save in seven chances.
The Mariners play the second of three games against the Tigers Wednesday night, Felix Hernandez (1-1, 2.76) facing off against Adam Wilk (0-0, 4.00). Hernandez has a career record of 8-2 against the Tigers.
The Mariners scored in the top of the first when Chone Figgins drew a leadoff walk, advanced to third on a Dustin Ackley single and scored on Jesus Montero’s single to left.
After Ackley singled to open the third, Ichiro reached on an infield single, and then a Kyle Seager single scored Ackley, making it 2-0. A Saunders double brought home Ichiro and Seager for a 4-0 edge.
The Tigers got a run back in the third on a Brendan Boesch single that scored Brandon Inge, then got to Vargas in the fourth with a two-run homer by catcher Alex Avila to make it 4-3.
The Mariners got runners at the corners with no outs in the fifth when Seager and Liddi singled. After Liddi stole second, Saunders whiffed, but Olivo hit into a fielder’s choice, scoring Seagler f0r a 5-3 Seattle lead.
The Mariners could do no more damage, but Miguel Cabrera added some for the Tigers in the bottom of the inning when he whacked a 400-foot homer off Vargas, making it 5-4.
The Mariners had two on with nobody out in the sixth, and failed to push a run across, but came back in the seventh with a solo shot by Liddi for a 6-4 Seattle lead.
Reliever Tom Wilhelmsen faced the heart of the Detroit order in the bottom of the eighth. Cabrera singled to center and Fielder singled to right. Delmon Young hit a shot to right that Ichiro caught for the first out, and the Tigers failed to capitalize after that.
Saunders had an RBI-double in the ninth.
Ichiro (3), Liddi (3), Montero (2), Seager (2) and Saunders (2) delivered multi-hit games for the Mariners, who began well a 10-game road trip through Detroit, Toronto and Tampa.
27 Comments
They beat the Tigers. Might want to fix the headline.
Got. Dumb on us. Thanks, Jake
Haha, no worries, just wanted to fix it real quick.
Your headline confuses me. Didn’t they play the Tigers?
Why this team can’t hit at Safeco Field but hit in Comerica Park is beyond me. Again, Figgins goes hitless and Ichiro hits like a leadoff hitter, leaving 4 on base. But he wasn’t the only one with a lot of LOB’s. I guess can’t complain when the team wins.
I totally agree. Flynn would have been running for his life behind that same line, and actually may have been sacked more than Wilson. At least one interception was because Wilson got knocked from behind. I’m all for keeping Russell in…no time to panic now.
thanks Art, good effort reading the tea leaves! I wonder how much happens behind the scenes in terms of internal politics. If the mediocrity continues will Paul Allen finally pick up the phone and mandate they plug in the 10 million $ QB?
For my entertainment dollar I’m ready for Flynn, i’ve seen enough of this offense under Wilson. It was painful even watching the green bay game in the second half, less the Rams which was a total head banger.
One thing you mentioned is Wilson’s “intangibles” which in NFL-speak should = leadership. I have not been aware of any strong leadership at least outwardly towards the media. i.e. its the QB’s job to call out weaknesses and poor performance (including his own). Perhaps this is happening in the locker room, but who knows?? All I hear from PC and Wilson is that we as fans should be expecting the same. “Stay the course” as another W liked to say……
As the curtain opens a wee bit more, we find Oz Pete dispensing coach-speak so nuanced even he is clueless.
Someday we will look back on the ’12 season and we will repeat the word, “huh?”
The O-line played really well in this game and if you don’t think so go back and watch the game. They had a solid pocket on almost every passing down, but Wilson is so short that he can’t see over the o-line and so he actually backs out of the pocket and guys that should be a yard or two too deep when they get the corner are actually getting hits on Wilson. If Wilson can’t step up into the pocket and deliver, Bevell has to be smart enough to roll Wilson out and have Cable change the blocking scheme to block for rollouts. Flynn would be stepping up into the pockets this line is creating and still be able to deliver the football. Therefore, either the QB needs to change or Bevell and Cable need to adjust and allow this offense to be successful, Wilson can’t play the conventional pocket passing game and that is showing week in and week out.
The O-line played really well in this game and if you don’t think so go back and watch the game. They had a solid pocket on almost every passing down, but Wilson is so short that he can’t see over the o-line and so he actually backs out of the pocket and guys that should be a yard or two too deep when they get the corner are actually getting hits on Wilson. If Wilson can’t step up into the pocket and deliver, Bevell has to be smart enough to roll Wilson out and have Cable change the blocking scheme to block for rollouts. Flynn would be stepping up into the pockets this line is creating and still be able to deliver the football. Therefore, either the QB needs to change or Bevell and Cable need to adjust and allow this offense to be successful, Wilson can’t play the conventional pocket passing game and that is showing week in and week out.
I read this column twice and still have no idea what Pete is saying.
I read this column twice and still have no idea what Pete is saying.
why didn’t anyone ask PC at the presser about the Sidny Rice “it sucks” comment about the seahawks offense?
why didn’t anyone ask PC at the presser about the Sidny Rice “it sucks” comment about the seahawks offense?
Because the Seattle sporting press is generally not up to snuff to conduct basic journalism. This has been apparent for ages.
I am not so sure if Pete is capable of recognizing a great quarterback. He is infatuated w intangables, guys that compete or practice well. I would rather have a QB that can dissect the red zone, throws TD’s & keep defenses guesiing. This offense is rudimentry & painful to watch. Unfortunately, Pete has made his bed. If he had done it the other way @, started Flynn & let Wilson watch & learn it would have been a smoother transition. Now he has to admit he was wrong from the get go (aside from blaming the elbow) & risks crushing Wilson’s confidence (not likely) for unknown results from Flynn. If you look at the schedule he is in a hell of a mess!
I am not so sure if Pete is capable of recognizing a great quarterback. He is infatuated w intangables, guys that compete or practice well. I would rather have a QB that can dissect the red zone, throws TD’s & keep defenses guesiing. This offense is rudimentry & painful to watch. Unfortunately, Pete has made his bed. If he had done it the other way @, started Flynn & let Wilson watch & learn it would have been a smoother transition. Now he has to admit he was wrong from the get go (aside from blaming the elbow) & risks crushing Wilson’s confidence (not likely) for unknown results from Flynn. If you look at the schedule he is in a hell of a mess!
except in the rarest of cases, life is rough for a rookie NFL QB- even more so if he is a midget (by NFL standards). I was rooting for Russell- but if he can’t put up 200 yards passing and get 20+ offensive points next game, its time to try Flynn– Marshawn is working way too hard to not get more points on the board—doubt Flynn is long term answer at QB, but he isn’t a rookie.
except in the rarest of cases, life is rough for a rookie NFL QB- even more so if he is a midget (by NFL standards). I was rooting for Russell- but if he can’t put up 200 yards passing and get 20+ offensive points next game, its time to try Flynn– Marshawn is working way too hard to not get more points on the board—doubt Flynn is long term answer at QB, but he isn’t a rookie.
except in rare cases, life for a rookie NFL QB is rough -even more so if he is a midget (by NFL standards). Carrol was hoping this was a rare case, but it apppears not. I was rooting for Russell myself, but if he can’t put up 200 yards passing and 20+ offensive points next game, it’s time for Flynn. Marshawn is working way too hard to have no air support. I doubt Flynn is long term answer, but at least he is not a rookie.
And please, no more midgame onside kicks, for Pete’s sake!
except in rare cases, life for a rookie NFL QB is rough -even more so if he is a midget (by NFL standards). Carrol was hoping this was a rare case, but it apppears not. I was rooting for Russell myself, but if he can’t put up 200 yards passing and 20+ offensive points next game, it’s time for Flynn. Marshawn is working way too hard to have no air support. I doubt Flynn is long term answer, but at least he is not a rookie.
And please, no more midgame onside kicks, for Pete’s sake!
Every talking head in the country, hell, even the couch slouch blames the non call on Green Bay’s loss. Not one…Not one, pointed out that GB only scored 13 points and no offensiver touchdowns. Tey were losing tnroughout the game. The official just gave the cry babies slomething to grasp.
Every talking head in the country, hell, even the couch slouch blames the non call on Green Bay’s loss. Not one…Not one, pointed out that GB only scored 13 points and no offensiver touchdowns. Tey were losing tnroughout the game. The official just gave the cry babies slomething to grasp.
Even a 6’3″ QB can’t see over leaping 460 lb 6’9′ Linemen. The offensive line needs to learn to move the pocket to give the QB options. There have been many successful QB’s that weren’t over 6′ tall. Let’s look at a verhy conservative play calling, probably so as not to overload the rookie and play calling that isn’t fooling anyone. Football is a game of deception. You don’t deceive, you don’t win.
Even a 6’3″ QB can’t see over leaping 460 lb 6’9′ Linemen. The offensive line needs to learn to move the pocket to give the QB options. There have been many successful QB’s that weren’t over 6′ tall. Let’s look at a verhy conservative play calling, probably so as not to overload the rookie and play calling that isn’t fooling anyone. Football is a game of deception. You don’t deceive, you don’t win.
If Pete wants a good receiver that knows how to get open and is blazing fast, he just needs to look at his practice squad where ther 2nd most prolific receiver in Husky history, is languishing.
If Pete wants a good receiver that knows how to get open and is blazing fast, he just needs to look at his practice squad where ther 2nd most prolific receiver in Husky history, is languishing.