Aaron Harang, dismantled by the New York Yankees in his last start, tossed his second complete-game shutout of the season Tuesday and Raul Ibanez cracked his team-leading 13th home run as the Mariners took their second in a row from the Houston Astros, winning 4-0 at Safeco Field. The shutout was Seattle’s eighth of the season and set up the Mariners for their first three-game winning streak since May 1-4.
Harang allowed two hits, fanned 10 and did not walk a batter, throwing 78 of his 114 pitches for strikes. Harang (3-6) also had a complete-game shutout May 27 against San Diego, winning 9-0. It was his 12th career 10-K game.
“He was fantastic, real good,” said manager Eric Wedge. “He’s a veteran guy who has been through it.”
The game was a fast one, lasting two hours, 15 minutes.
The Mariners (29-37) tallied on a wild pitch in the first inning (Endy Chavez), on a Michael Saunders sacrifice fly in the second, on Ibanez’s second homer in two days in the sixth and on an RBI single by Kyle Seager in the eighth.
The Mariners and Astros will close out their series Wednesday night. Jeremy Bonderman (1-1, 6.75) goes against RHP Jordan Lyles (3-1, 4.03). Bonderman rebounded from a one-run deficit and 50 pitches in the first two innings Friday to beat the Yankees with six innings of three-hit, one-run ball for his first MLB victory since Sept. 8, 2010.
NOTES: The Mariners scratched 1B Kendrys Morales from the lineup Tuesday due to more lower back soreness. Alex Liddi took Morales’ spot . . . The Mariners Tuesday promoted catcher Mike Zunino, the team’s No. 1 draft pick in 2012, from AAA Tacoma and designated Brandon Bantz for assignment. Zunino, 22, hit .238 with 11 home runs and 43 RBIs in 47 games for Tacoma, with a .303 on-base percentage and .503 slugging percentage. He will split time with starter Kelly Shoppach. The club will make another decision on Zunino once the injured Jesus Sucre comes off the disabled list.
2 Comments
Bill Krueger was cracking me up with his commentary after the game. He really wasn’t impressed with the Astros. Liking Harang more and more as he gets more aclimated with the team and AL.
Well that knocked Harang off of the top of my First Starter To Be Replaced List. Bonderman is now officially my first choice. Hurry up Erasmo!