Mariners Notes:
What is an underdog? These Mariners know it all too well after a one-win regular season. Coming into the playoffs as the seventh seed was a foregone conclusion many games ago, but how they would fare was not. Greg H. got it started in his new role as lead-off with a flare to left-field. After a SB, Greg came in on a Nate M. hit, but unfortunately, Nate got hung out to dry going for second. The D-Backs answered loudly with three in the bottom-half. Christian C. had some control issues, and with the short-playoff leash, gave way to side-arming Alex L who stopped the bleeding. After the Mariners and D-Backs traded quiet second innings, The M’s came on strong in the third. Greg and Nate walked to let Zach B. knock a run in off a FC. John B. then doubled down the third-base line and moved to third on an errant throw. Dylan S. did his job with a base hit past third to pick up a ribbie. Sam F. moved Dylan over on a FC. A BB by Alex set the table further for Scott S. to drive in the final runs for the inning, making it a 6 to 3 game. The D-Backs threatened in the 4th as their superstar hit his third double of the day to drive in one, but Alex battled hard to keep it at that. In the 5th, the M’s added some insurance runs as Dylan took one for the team, was bunted over by Sam F., which allowed Alex to pop one over the OFs for a RBI double. Unfortunately, Christian, who was special pinch running for Dylan, got the signs crossed up and returned to third, setting up a 2nd and 3rd with Jesse W. up. On a 1 and 1 count, Jesse W. then executed a perfect bunt to the third base side of the pitcher, prompting a wild throw to first that allowed two runs to score. Leading now 9 to 4, the question was would it be enough? Alex used all 95 of his pitches as he struck out a D-Back to start the bottom of the sixth. Zach then took the mound, giving up a shot to the right field wall to their main man, but settled down to get the next two with no further damage. In the bottom of the seventh, Zach became Mr. Efficiency as he got one swinging K, one pop-out to third, and to the last batter, Zach used his 20th pitch to get a called third strike to end the game. Suffice to say, I was proud of these young guys who were the last NOLL/SOLL team to get a win this year, yet came to play hard every chance they could. I can’t say how they’ll fare tomorrow, but at least for today, all those losses have been replaced by at least one precious playoff win. Is there more in store? Come to Caldecott and find out.... I’m curious - aren’t you?