== M’s endure cold stretch ==
The Mariners started out the month by tattooing 13 runs on the Houston Astros.
And they added five more the next day.
Since then, not so much.
In the five games starting in Chicago on the 4th of July:
- 6 runs in 5 games
- Team .199/.239/.250
- 22.8% K-rate
- 5.3% BB-rate
In other words, they have been quite fortunate to pull out two wins in that stretch. An extra-inning escape, and a pitching gem from Hisashi Iwakuma.
They even achieved something that at one point was considered to be physically impossible: they faced Hector Noesi and did not score any runs.
Tuesday was more of the same, as long-time Yankee and relatively new Twin Phil Hughes put the M’s bats even deeper into the deep freeze with an eight-hit, zero-walk, eight-strikeout performance. Logan Morrison‘s double was the only extra-base hit.
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I will have more to say about catching up and down the organization, but, while the callup of Jesus Sucre over John Buck came out of the blue, it’s not really a shocker.
Sucre has long been a favorite of Jack Zduriencik for his defense and athleticism behind the plate. So, for Buck to hold his spot, he had to hit. Buck didn’t hit.
I don’t think there’s more to it than that, although it certainly does facilitate the advancement of the other catchers below Sucre, such as John Hicks, who now gets a shot at AAA.
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Daily Prospect-palooza
- Mariners affiliate scoreboard here.
- The Mariners Thursday MLB starter is still “to be determined.” Some thought Jordan Pries might get a shot, but he went 5.2 IP Tuesday for Tacoma, so that’s not the plan. Assume Tom Wilhelmsen trying to squeeze out 4.0 IP? [And, by the time I got this published, it turns out that Wilhelmsen has been announced as the starter.]
- Pries got a “win” despite giving up 7 ER because the Rainiers put on an offensive display: Abe Almonte, Stefen Romero and Jesus Montero all homered. Three others got three hits, and Chris Taylor got three walks.
- Also homering: D.J. Peterson and Jack Marder in a rain-shortened game for Jackson. Number 21 for Deej, and No. 5 for Marder.
- Jordy Lara had two doubles and a single in a High Desert win.
- Isaiah Yates, subbing at Low-A Clinton, is proving he might belong after getting his 2nd homer (he hit two in Arizona before promotion). But he’s only hitting .171. Still, he’s one of our favorite young prospects, and that batting average is pretty much due to the .185 BABIP.
- Another of our favorites, Aaron Barbosa, stole his 20th base in 25 attempts in the same game.
- And Virginia Tech’s Eddie Campbell had a stellar start: 6.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K.
- It wasn’t as bad as his country’s soccer debacle, but Brazil’s Luiz Gohara struggled in his start for Everett (3.2 IP, 3 ER). But Corey Simpson and shortstop Chris Mariscal homered.
- Estarlyn Morales went deep in Pulaski’s loss, for his first of the year.
- Hersin Martinez of the rookie Mariners homered, singled and walked twice. The Glamour Boys Alex Jackson and Gareth Morgan also got hits.
