Mariners Log: James Paxton scintillates over seven innings and M’s tame Tigers
OFFENSE CLUBS THREE HOMERS TO BACK PAXTON’S GOOSE EGGS
What happened: James Paxton was sensational for seven innings, the offense was productive again and the Seattle Mariners hammered the Detroit Tigers 8-0 at Comerica Park.
It was as hopeful a performance as one could hope for after getting beaten up on and off the field in Tuesday’s 19-9 loss the Tigers, which saw the Mariners surrender 24 base hits and lose the leader of their pitching staff and their team MVP to this point in the season to injuries of undetermined severity.
Paxton (W, 3-0, 1.39) cruised through seven frames, hardly ever pushed to the point of perspiration. He gave up just four hits – three singles and a double – and one walk while striking out nine. Any consternation about his somewhat shaky performance last time out was quickly erased and forgotten.
On top of Paxton’s mastery, Nick Vincent and Edwin Diaz provided two no-hit, no-walk, no-drama innings of relief to complete the win.
The offense came from just about everywhere. Ben Gamel was the only one without a hit in the 15-hit attack, and even he drove in a run. Jean Segura went 3 for 5 with a homer and two RBIs, Guillermo Heredia went 2 for 5 with a two-run homer and Nelson Cruz added a two-run shot and finished 2 for 4. Jarrod Dyson went 2 for 5 and stole two bases.
Line Outs
- The Mariners got something cooking in the first off Tigers starter Daniel Norris. With one down, Guillermo Heredia reached on a bunt and Robinson Cano walked. Nelson Cruz followed with a hard-hit single off the shortstop’s glove to load ’em up for Taylor Motter. But Motter chased a ball 4 inches off the plate for strike three and Danny Valencia lined out to second to end the threat.
- Two-out RBI alert!: They got to Norris in the second. With one out, Mike Zunino singled and went to second on a groundout. Jean Segura then lined a single up the middle to bring in Zunino. Heredia followed with a six-pitch at-bat and crushed a two-run homer (2) to straight-away left.
- Cano led off the fifth with a double and Cruz walked. Motter singled to center to load the bases again and the Tigers called on reliever Shane Greene to take over. Valencia popped up for out No. 1, but freshly-recalled Ben Gamel drew an eight pitch walk to force in a run. Zunino struck out looking and Dyson grounded out to kill the rally.
- Boomstick goes boom! Cruz launched a two-out, two-run shot (5) to left-center in the sixth on a 2-1 splitter from Anibal Sanchez. Motter followed with a double but was stranded.
- More two-out runs! In the seventh, Dyson singled, stole second (easily) and scored on a double to right center by Segura.
- Valencia led off the ninth with a booming ground-rule double to center. After two outs, Jarrod Dyson reached when pitcher Sanchez couldn’t handle an underhanded toss on a grounder to first and after he booted it, Valencia raced around to beat Sanchez’ throw home.
Nick Vincent continued his strong start of the season, striking out one in a perfect inning of work.
The Takeaway
They needed this one. Strong effort from a front-runner for A.L. pitcher of the month, plenty of offense… and no drama anywhere. After Tuesday’s nightmare the Mariners needed to just win a game and try to forget about everything else. The offense continues to show life, which is good since nights that Paxton doesn’t pitch it’s going to have to carry this team.
Tweet of the Day
Players of the Game
Goat: Anibal Sanchez. Now in a mop-up role for the Tigers, he gave up four runs over four innings.
Mariners Notes
The Mariners have scored first in all six so far on the current road trip and are now 2-4 thus far… Danny Valencia went 2 for 5 with a double, a run and a stolen base…The team went 4 for 17 with runners in scoring position and left 11 on, not that it mattered.
Next Game
Seattle Mariners (9-13) vs. Detroit Tigers (11-9), 10:10 a.m., Comerica Park. RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (0-2, 5.31) vs. Justin Verlander 91-2, 6.04).
What others are saying (and writing)
Are you panicked about the Mariners? You are not alone. … The roster moves made before yesterday’s game with Detroit were not ones of desire but of necessity. … Paxton has been tough in all but one game this season. And it’s obvious Scott Servais is impressed.