8/12: Open game thread

What a game of baseball our Seattle Mariners played last night! What early fun, followed by a middle innings slog, punctuated by bullpen collapse, and finally walked off with great, Austin Jackson shaped flare!

Today's rubber match has Hisashi Iwakuma throwing the 'ol baseball around. Kuma threw a career high 118 pitches on Friday, giving up three runs, only one of which wasn't the result of the Mark Trumbo in the Outfield life we're living. He mowed down nine of the last ten batters he faced and has looked very Good Iwakuma-y of late. With a win today, the Mariners would secure their third straight series win for the first time since 1995. Not really, but you thought about it, didn't you?

The Mariners will face Kevin Gausman. Gausman has been up and down in seven starts this season and took a loss after a sixth inning collapse against the Angels on Friday. The Mariners haven't seen much of Gausman but have had some success against him. Kyle Seager is .333 in three at bats, while Robinson Cano is .667 in six with a RBI (woo small sample sizes). Improbably, Mike Zunino also has a hit against Gausman, so hopefully he can pull himself out of the deep, dark offensive hole he has been occupying since the halcyon days of that eleven game hit streak. August, like the left field foul pole, is a nemesis Mikey can't shake. Maybe today will be different?

@megrowler @minakimes No, he sucks

— Jonah Keri (@jonahkeri) August 12, 2015

Thanks, Jonah.

(UPDATE: The M's are giving Mike the day off because of hurt feelings. Jesus Sucre will do the catching. I don't know Jonah but I would imagine his assessment remains largely unchanged.)

During yesterday's game, Nelson Cruz, MLB home run leader (!) (eat it, Anaheim based fish person) stood in the on deck circle at the end of the sixth and then was noticeably absent in the top of the 7th, leading to some really measured reactions on Mariners twitter. This person is in no way crazy:

EVERYTHING ABOUT THAT DUGOUT SHOT WAS TERRIFYING WHAT ARE YOU DOING WHAT IS HAPPENING ARE WE STILL LIVING EVEN?

— Meg Rowley (@megrowler) August 12, 2015

Cruz had a neck spasm, and while he said yesterday he doesn't expect to miss significant time, he will miss today's baseball contest, which is a bummer because Nelson Cruz is pretty good at baseball contests. Cruz has been stupidly amazing this year. This offense without him can just be stupid. Please be well soon, Nelson.

.@ncboomstick23 leads the AL in hits AND home runs. No player finished atop his league in both in 20 years. pic.twitter.com/bGNt0gwaE8

— MLB Stat of the Day (@MLBStatoftheDay) August 12, 2015

Win, you ragtag group of stars and failed prospects.

Go M's.

Game Info

• Orioles @ Mariners, 12:40 PM, Safeco Field
• TV: ROOT Sports, Radio: 710 ESPN, Online: MLB.TV