Mariners Noon Number: 2.097

Entering Friday night’s game against the Oakland Athletics, the Seattle Mariners starting pitchers had allowed just three walks in their last 42 innings pitched over the previous seven games.

Overall this season, Mariners starters rank second in the Majors – and tops in the American League – in walks per nine innings at 2.097 (23 BB, 98.2 IP).

They trail only the New York Mets starting rotation (1.62) in MLB. In the first 10 games of the season, Seattle’s starting staff walked 20 batters in 56 2/3 innings, an average of 3.18 BB/9.

Of course, Hisashi Iwakuma went out and walked four to disrupt the good vibes. Iwakuma was serviceable against the Athletics, but with the offense absent once again he needed to pitch a shutout and that, obviously, didn’t happen.