Game 111, Rangers at Mariners
Mike Montgomery vs. Martin Perez, 1:10pm
The M’s officially induct Jamie Moyer into the club’s Hall of Fame today, a fitting tribute for the most unlikely star in M’s history. Acquired for Darren Bragg in 1996 in a trade I absolutely hated at the time, Moyer went on to throw over 2,000 innings in 323 starts for the M’s. Larry Stone’s article about Moyer and the M’s tribute is worth a read, as usual.
After grabbing a win against the Rangers new ace, the M’s face lefty Martin Perez, another hurler featuring a solid change-up. Perez is clearly no Cole Hamels, and he’s struggled throughout his career with his control and a strange inability to get strikeouts despite good velocity from the left side. In recent years, his arm hasn’t held up, as he’s making just his fourth start in the big leagues in his return from TJ surgery. Since the start of 2014, the 24 year old has made only 12 starts. One thing he hasn’t struggled with, though, is the Mariners. In 6 games against Seattle, he’s been surprisingly tough.
Perez’s change has traditionally been a swing-and-miss pitch, which helps balance the fact that his fastball seems surprisingly easy to hit. In his first few games back, his whiff rate is down markedly, but he’s getting a flurry of ground balls. He’s shifted between four- and two-seam fastballs at times, and is throwing them almost equally thus far in 2015. He’s also got a slider and curve, both of which are thrown surprisingly hard. The change helps him ameliorate his platoon splits, but command of the pitch seems to come and go for him. That inconsistency has been a major issue for Perez since his days as a hyped prospect in Texas’ stocked system. Hopefully this is one of his off days.
1: Marte, SS
2: Seager, 3B
3: Cruz, DH
4: Cano, 2B
5: Montero, 1B
6: Jackson, CF
7: Trumbo, RF
8: Miller, LF
9: Sucre, C
SP: Montgomery
Tacoma beat Reno 7-6 in 10 innings last night, scoring 5 runs in the 9th to tie it, then walking off in the 10th on a bases-loaded walk. Jabari Blash hit 2 HRs in the game, and Jose Ramirez pitched two scoreless innings for the win. The Rainiers will face ex-Rockies hurler Jhoulys Chacin today – no word on the R’s starter.
Jackson lost to Tennessee 6-5 on a walk-off hit from ex-A’s prospect Billy McKinney. Marcus Littlewood hit his 5th HR, but the Generals were in trouble early as Misael Siverio gave up 5 runs in just 2/3 of an inning to start the game. Moises Hernandez starts today against Pierce Johnson, who’s been very tough in 10 AA starts this year.
Bakersfield beat Modesto 5-2, getting three runs in the 9th on a walk-off 3-run jack from Kyle Petty. Dan Altavilla starts today for Bakersfield against Antonio Senzatela
Clinton lost to South Bend 4-1, sending the L-Kings to an astonishing 42 games under .500. Clinton struggled in the first half of the year, but since the break, they’ve utterly collapsed – they’ve got an 8-33 record, and they’ve fallen to the worst record of any full-season team in all of the minors. Lukas Schiraldi starts today.
Everett beat Tri-Cities 3-2 in 10 innings on a walk-off single by Corey Simpson. SS Drew Jackson continues to rake, but the star of the game was reliever Nick Wells who threw 5 scoreless innings, yielding just 1 hit, walking none and striking out 8. It was the lefty’s first appearance for the M’s since being acquired from Toronto in the Mark Lowe deal. Luiz Gohara starts tonight for the AquaSox.
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24 Responses to “Game 111, Rangers at Mariners”
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I like Marte getting an extended look at SS!
Marc, quick question. I just started writing a Mariners column for another news site. Would it be inappropriate to post a link on the comment thread here? I don’t want to drive traffic away from USS, I’ve been a reader for years, I’m just trying to expand my readership. If it’s not ok, that’s totally fine! Love your game day previews and will continue to follow everyday!
Thanks!
Well now, there’s apparently a team policy against having a good defender in right field.
I don’t know how Miller will be in the outfield, but he’s got to be better than Trumbo even without much experience.
Lloyd is 2-for-2 on challenges today!
Oooof. Runners on 1st and 2nd and nobody out…….and we fail to make a dent
Well that wasn’t the best thing to try, Robbie…
Ugh, I absolutely HATE it when a pitcher walks a run in.
Monty can’t throw a strike right now.
Well, I guess that could’ve been worse….
Limiting the damage? Kinda sorta?
Who ever teaches these guys what to do while on base should be fired, getting picked off and/or thrown out constantly is embarrassing.
Anyone else think Miller needs traded? I’m sure someone needs an error prone SS.
I’d throw Jackson in there for free! a no contact/dirt pitch swinging CF!
Agreed. How is he above .250???
yeah… nice pitch hitting there Lloyd! this is why your the manager of this team and we are not…. haha
This isn’t looking good…
You can put it on the boooaaarrrddd YES YES!! ugh… This team can look so inept at the plate most of the time its disgusting. Out side of Cruz, and flashes of seager/cano, no one has looked even remotely decent.
The silver lining in a lost season: imagine how much this one would hurt if the M’s were in a playoff race? Here’s to numbness, everyone!
Hahaha Marc.
Rasmussen is throwing batting practice to the Rangers.
Rangers throw their closer two innings and pitch around our two “best” hitters.
Our closer never gets woke up from his nap. I hope to god somebody has the balls to ask Llyod after the game if he is aware there were no more save situations for the home team once the game went to extra innings.
Beimel is throwing batting practice to the Rangers.
I think I’m outta here.
Being the eternal optimist I still thought this season could be salvaged. But the way this whole game was played and managed… I’m done for the year.
It’s not the losses, it’s how the loses happen. 7-3 by being out managed and being slobs on the base paths is an effing joke at this point.
Remember when it was 3 – 3, we had no outs and a runner on 2nd with a chance to win…. ya that was good times… good fucking grief, stick a fork in this one.