Sunday night: King Felix Hernandez dominates the Oakland Athletics for 7 innings, keeping them scoreless and striking out 10 while walking just 2.  He returns for the 8th inning and walks the first batter.  Then surrenders a double.  Then walks another batter.  Then surrenders a single that drives in a pair.  Tied ballgame.  Felix is pulled from the game in favor of Brandon Morrow.  Morrow records just one out while allowing both inherited runners to score.  Sean Green enters the game are records the final two outs.  Seattle is down 4-2 entering the bottom of the 9th, but Seattle’s offense is unable to register a hit in a feeble comeback attempt.  Ballgame lost.

Tuesday night: Carlos Silva dominates the Cleveland Indians through 7 innings allowing just a single run and walking none.  He returns in the 8th and walks the first batter.  Then gives up a single. 

At this point I’m having a bit of deja vu.  Is this really happening?

Silva is pulled in favor of Arthur Rhodes, who allows one inherited run that ties the ballgame but gets the outs he was brought in to get.  Mark Lowe comes in and records a strikeout to end the threat and the inning.

This time Seattle wasn’t down, but their bats still needed to deliver in the clutch.  One of the best relievers in the league last year and Cleveland’s closer, Rafael Betancourt comes in to keep the game tied in the top of the 9th but, to my amazement, Seattle’s bats come alive.  Four singles, one double, one walk, a three-run home run and three Cleveland pitchers later and the Mariners are up 7-2.  Mark Lowe returns and pitches a scoreless bottom of the 9th to seal the Mariners’ win. 

Seattle really needed this game after several tough losses this young season.  This should be a great confidence boost and hopefully this team can start to play like they need to.

Other game notes:

• Carlos Silva continues to earn his paycheck.  As I mentioned in the Series Thread, Silva has not been historically good against Cleveland, but he managed to pitch into the 7th inning once again while being charged with only two runs.  He could easily be called Seattle’s most valuable starter so far this season.
• Looks like Jose Vidro and Brad Wilkerson are playing scared after Seattle announcing that top prospects Jeff Clement and Wladimir Balentien are about to be called up.  Vidro had two big doubles and Wilkerson went 3/3 with a walk.  Nothing wrong with a little motivation.
• Why did manager John McLaren pinch hit Willie Bloomquist for Brad Wilkerson in the 9th with the Mariners up 5-2?  Yes there was a lefty pitching, but Wilkerson was 3/3 and seeing the ball well.  Besides, Wilkerson historically hits lefties better than righties, a split completely ignored by McLaren.  Granted, the move worked out for the M’s.  Bloomquist walked, stole a base and later scored.