Takeaway
Angels sluggers Mike Trout and C.J. Cron each hit a pair of homers, and the Mariners ran out of offense in a 7-3 loss Friday night at Safeco (box score). Seattle has not won back-to-back games in July, which is only half-bad when considering that the Mariners haven’t lost two in a row, either. They’re finally playing like a .500 team . . . no more than that.
Essential moment
Trout’s first homer, a 415-foot shot to centerfield, was worth the price of admission. Seeing the best hitter in baseball, in his prime, do what he does best was a must-see moment for even the most diehard Mariners fan. That it gave the Angels a 3-1 lead in the third inning, turning the tide for the night, only added to the moment.
Pitchers
Starter Mike Montgomery finally fell to earth when he turned in the worst start of his young career. Montgomery pitched a career-low five innings while allowing highs of eight hits and five runs. Home runs continue to be the thorn in the side of Seattle pitchers.
Hitters
The Mariners got off to a promising start with three base hits and a run in the first inning, but they had nothing to offer Los Angeles starter Hector Santiago after that. Coming on the heels of a 19-hit night Thursday, the performance felt a little bit like following a sirloin steak dinner with an Egg McMuffin breakfast.
Words
“We didn’t give ourselves a chance tonight. The long ball hurt us.” –manager Lloyd McClendon
Noteworthy
CF Austin Jackson (back spasms) was not in the lineup for the second day in a row. He told reporters before the game that he might sit out the entire series . . . The absence of Jackson, and a left-handed starter on the mound for the Angels, led the Mariners to put a unique lineup on the field. 1B Jesus Montero got his first start of the season (1 for 3), while SS Chris Taylor batted leadoff for the first time in his career . . . The highlight of Saturday’s game may well come before the first batter steps into the box. Evelyn Jones, a 108-year-old Woodinville resident, is scheduled to throw the ceremonial first pitch. The oldest person to throw out a first pitch was 104, meaning Jones would make MLB history.
Next
RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (0-1, 7.17 ERA) is back on the mound for the second time since coming off the disabled list. Fans in the stands in right-center field might want to bring a glove, as Iwakuma served up four home runs his last time out and already given up nine in four starts this season. LHP C.J. Wilson (7-6, 3.82 ERA) is expected to be on the mound for the Angels.
3 Comments
The challenge Edgar is facing as the new hitting coach is getting the team to hit consistently during the game. Many times they start off hot and go cold as the game progresses. Tonight was a typical example and Trumbo’s hit in the end was too little, too late. Farquhar seems to still be having control issues as well. I didn’t think going to Tacoma was going to help him and I don’t think it will for Wilhelmsen either. But if Jack continues to tinker with the roster I think it will have detrimental effects on the team. They need to be left alone to work things out on their own at this point.
Another 1 game win streak snapped. With the washed up, rushed to the big leagues Iwakuma going on Sat, most likely need to wait for Sun to start another 1 game win streak.
Love the sirloin to egg mcmuffin comment! Very amusing. There could be some really good laughs the second half of this season. And some very interesting developments. It could be fascinating. I always find it curious, the way the M’s operate. This could be fun. As long as you don’t stress about making the playoffs. Forget the playoffs. As tennis star Billie Jean King once told Martina Navratilova, “there’s only one point you ever play”. That, of course, would be the present point, not the last one or a future one. Focus on that. Forget the playoffs. Forget yesterday. Forget last week. Forget playing up to your contract. See ball. Hit ball. It’s fun. This thing is built. It’s either gonna fly or it’s not.