Kyle Seager leads offense to 4-0 W!
Seattle 4, Toronto 0
When: 7:07 PM ET, Friday, May 3, 2013
Where: Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Temperature: Indoors
Umpires: Home – Jim Joyce, 1B – Ed Hickox, 2B – Lance Barksdale, 3B – Cory Blaser
Attendance: 23779
Boxscore
Felix Hernandez is the king of Seattle baseball, but going into the night, Felix was second on his team in ERA to “prince” Hisashi Iwakuma. That would end Friday night.
The king went 8 strong innings without giving up a run, giving up 5 scattered hits while striking out 7 Blue Jays. Whenever Toronto wasn’t succumbing to a third strike changeup, slider or two-seam fastball, they were grounding out to Kyle Seager, who seemed to be a part of every defensive play.
If defense is no longer enough to earn a paycheck in Seattle, then let me introduce you to young Kyle Seager, who is the actual hope for the future of Seattle. After a 3 for 4 evening with a home run (4) and two RBI (15), Seager raised his numbers to .304/.365/.513.
The surprise of Jason Bay has been incredibly delightful
The breakthrough from Seager and re-addition of Michael Saunders has invigorated a Mariners offense that was sputtering because of injuries. Since Saunders returned from injury and handed the leadoff spot, he has reached base 6 times and scored 6 runs and the Mariners are 3-1 in that time.
The Mariners one loss this week? Saunders was 0 for 5.
Bats Heating UP
M’s fans are receiving a rare glimpse of what it looks like to have good pitching alongside good hitting. With the top 5 hitters in the lineup playing at major league levels (yes that was a crack at some of the Mariners lineups the last few years), the team is beginning to look like a solid team.
Michael Morse new power streak means that his finger finally feels better, and Kendrys Morales continues to be an above average producer (even with a low BA at .259) getting on base at a .355 clip.
It would be great if Morales could stop grounding into double plays, of which he leads the league.
The surprise of Jason Bay has been incredibly delightful, after hitting a home run Friday, his .279/.375/.475 splits have been a difference maker for the offense. If Dustin Ackley can continue to (quietly) hit and get on base, this offense may indeed make the improvement anticipated all offseason.
More Felix
Felix won his third game in a row and has four wins already this season. His ERA was lowered to 1.60, just beating out Iwakuma’s 1.67. Unfortunately, the Mariners third best starting pitcher’s ERA belongs to Joe Saunders at 5.25.
Felix last 4 starts (Det, Hou, LAA, Tor): 30 IP, 20 H, 2 BB, 2 ER, 35 K’s. That is awesome. The Mariners recorded their 5th shutout of the season behind Hernandez and Tom Wilhelmsen in the 9th.
Mariners won their 7th game to start a series this season, they are searching for their third series win tomorrow and Sunday.
Mariners play early next two games, 10 AM starts!
Go M’s.
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