Seattle takes game 1 on 10-game trip
The Headline: the Seattle Mariners fight until the end and get a big win against the American League Central leading Detroit Tigers
Seattle Mariners 7, Detroit Tigers 4
When: 6:05 ET, Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Where: Comerica Park, Detroit
Temperature: 60
Umpires: Home — James Hoye, 1B — Jim Joyce, 2B — Jim Reynolds, 3B — Mike DiMuro
Attendance: 30,073
Love ‘em
1. Vargas Keeping Cool
Jason Vargas by no means pitched a perfect game. He allowed 4 runs on 6 hits, while giving up 2 home runs in a pretty good pitchers park.
None the less, he did enough to give the Mariners a win, and for the he gets a tip of the hat. The M’s lefty ran into a rough 4th inning (2 runs, 3 hits) and another tough inning in the 5th (solo shot to Miguel Cabrera). Vargas still kept his cool, pitched a perfect 6th, and then handed the ball over to the ‘pen.
2. Bullpen Shutdown
Now, let’s talk about that ‘pen. Against one of the most dangerous lineups in the America League, the bullpen was near perfect.
Steve Delabar pitched a 1 walk 7th, and Tom Wilhelmsen allowed opening singles to Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder, only to shut down the next three hitters in the 8th. Rounding out the bunch is Brandon League, who pitched a near perfect 9th, locking down the win and his 6th save.
3. Alex Liddi
In last Sunday’s recap I mentioned how impressed I’ve been with Alex Liddi.
The Mariners prospect kept things rolling today. Liddi went 3-5, launching his first home run of the season in the 7th.
Hate ‘em
1. Not Enough Damage
After a win like this, it’s hard to say the offense didn’t do enough.
Clik here to view.
NICE 8th inning by Tom "The Bartender" Wilhelmsen
A stat that is nearly impossible to ignore is the 27 men left on base. Seattle had 15 hits, 1 home runs, 2 stolen bases and 2 doubles. And yet, they could only score 7 runs while leaving 27 men on. That’s far from offensive efficiency.
2. Vargas… Revisited
Like I said above, Vargas didn’t pitch the most amazing game. He did well keeping his cool, but at the end of the night the offense won this one.
The most daunting stat is this 6 ground outs to 8 fly outs. A lot of fly outs is a dangerous thing outside of spacious Safeco. Lucky for Vargas, Comerica is another great pitchers park, and his fly balls resulted in just two home runs.
3. Chone Figgins
Chone Figgins got off to a great start, and it seemed Seattle might actually see some return for their money.
It’s starting to look like some things never change. Over his last 10 games, Figgy is batting just .114, with 5 runs and 13 strikeouts. Figgins went 0-3 tonight, though he did have 2 walks and a run scored.
Here’s the BOXSCORE | and Our Managing Editor “Q” has his RECAP
NoteBook
Quote of the night – Eric Wedge – “These guys have been getting beaten up pretty good, and you know, they’ve got to get over that hump”
Chone Figgins is 1-for-18 over the last five games. Michael Saunders drove in three. Entering the game, the M’s had only five hits in their past 42 at-bats with runners in scoring position.
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