Mariners Rake Baseballs, Sweep Phillies

Those of you who live in or near Seattle know today has been bright and beautiful. I usually try to take advantage of this kind of weather, but the promise of many runs produced by Mariners hitters was enticing. So I decided to spend this beautiful day inside watching baseball. This was a good decision.

The top of the lineup has been destroying the baseball lately, and that trend continued in the top of the first inning. My hair inspiration, Ben Gamel, was the first runner to reach base, singling on a line drive to former Mariner Michael Saunders. He would come around to score on a Kyle Seager sacrifice fly.

Gamel again got on board in the top of the third. Then Robinson Cano went the other way with a two-run dinger to put the Mariners on top 3-0.

Yovani Gallardo ran into a bit of trouble in the bottom of the third. A one out single from the Phillies pitcher, Zach Eflin, catalyzed a three-run frame. All the damage was done with a single swing of the bat, as Aaron Altherr drilled a slider over the left field fence.

The third inning aside, Gallardo was effective on the hill. Although he only generated one strikeout, he was able to locate his curveball well, yielding a few routine grounders.

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

Exhibit C:

His only strikeout also came from a curve:

After three innings without scoring, a Cano single and Seager walk to start the seventh provided Danny Valencia with the opportunity to grab the lead. He took a 1-1 slider in the middle of the plate and drilled it down the right field line, scoring Cano easily from second.

Former Mariner Joaquin Benoit intentionally walked Jarrod Dyson following Danny’s double, loading the bases for Carlos Ruiz. The 38-year-old catcher, who spent over a decade in Philadelphia, got one last moment to shine in the ball park where he made his MLB debut.

His bases clearing double put the Mariners up four runs, and sent twitter into a frenzy.

In a game that saw Robinson Cano go four-for-five, Chooch’s lone double was far and away the highlight of the game.

The Mariners added some insurance later in the seventh via a bases-loaded walk drawn by Robinson Cano.

Valencia, who drew first blood in the seventh inning, struck again to start the eight, hammering a first-pitch-fastball to left.

Jarrod Dyson joined the power party, droving in the tenth run for the Mariners with a deep triple to right-center.

He would come around to score on a Ruiz sacrifice fly.

Dan Altavilla and Dillon Overton ran into a bit of trouble in the final two innings, allowing a combined three runs to score; however, at that point, victory was firmly within the grasp of the Mariners.

It’s been awesome to watch this team fight back to .500. Injuries can take four starting pitchers, a handful of relievers, and a sensational young outfielder, but injuries cannot take the fight away from this club. It’s hard to believe this team was four games under .500 less than a week ago.

The Mariners are walking into Toronto tomorrow with hot bats, which could result in a lot of dingers. May the momentum continue to build.

Go M’s.