Saturday, June 2, 2001 (W: SEA 7 - TB 4 42-12)

Sorry I've been so bad about posting. I have a midterm coming up, and I'm slipping behind on homework, and work sucks. But, that's no excuse. I'll try to catch up a day or two at a time.

The M's came from behind once again tonight, as Paul Abbott gave up two quick runs in the top of the first before the Mariners struck back with five in the bottom of the first off of Tampa Bay starter Ryan Rupe. Each team tacked on two more runs in later innings for a final score of 7-4.

The tenth win in a row for the Mariners, tying a franchise record set in 1996, started off ugly with a first inning two-out two-run home run by Greg Vaughn. However, the Mariners' first 7 batters reached base in the bottom of the inning, plating five runs.

Congratulations to Brian Fuentes for making his major league debut a success, coming on with two runners and no outs in the top of the seventh, and getting two quick outs before giving way to Jose Paniagua.

Kaz got his 22nd save.

In the sixth inning Hal McRae was ejected for arguing a fan interference call. Ichiro leaped for a Russ Johnson drive in foul territory, and probably would have caught it, if not for an idiot fan who reached out and caught the ball. The umpires called Johnson out, judging that Ichiro would have made the catch. McRae didn't agree. Some day, some fan will cost a team a big game due to something like this, and hopefully then fans will learn that they're paying to watch the game, not be a part of it. Anybody lucky (or wealthy) enough to score front row seats in any section should respect the game and it's friendly confines, or not get the privilege of sitting so close to the action.

Larry Stone wrote a good article in today's Times pointing out that the Mariners are not doing it by "Pitching and Defense" as many would have you believe. In fact, while their pitching is great, at third in the AL in runs allowed, their hitting is first. When people tell you that pitching and defense is what wins games, remind them that you still have to hit, and the M's are doing that pretty well. They're now leading the Twins by 6.5 games for the best record in the majors.

Former Mariner Glenallen Hill was waived yesterday by the Angels after hitting only .136 in 66 AB.