M’s don’t let Angels come all the way back
MARINERS
It is the type of win that just might win a pennant. A resilient triumph, a shocking success, a never-say-ah-crap-we-blew-a-lead-now-we're-going-to-lose victory.
Right. It was just another game in August.
But it is obvious it meant a lot to the M's, winning like they did on Yunieksy Betancourt's RBI single in the 12th. Heck, Jose Guillen almost caught Betancourt before he touched first base, such was the ex-Angel's excitement at pulling within three games of his old team.
The win, which came despite J.J. Putz falling victim to a) a three-run Angels' rally in the ninth; and b) the Sports Illustrated jinx for the second time in a week, gave Seattle a series win,
It also may have given the M's a hangover – pitching and emotionally – as the Red Sox come to town. We'll find out Friday when Horacio Ramirez (6-3, 6.52) faces the comeback kid, Jon Lester (1-0, 4.26).
Today's hot list …
• From Felix being knocked down to J.J. being knocked around, the game stories look at the bad things that happened Wednesday night. And then they examine the bottom line, the win. Here they are, from the Times, the P-I, the News Tribune and the Herald. Here is the L.A. Times story.
• I said this when they signed him, and I'm standing by it: Guillen is a clubhouse cancer just waiting to metastasize. And the explosion is coming. In the long run, it will probably cost the M's the postseason. Why am I bringing this up now? Because the M's announced late Wednesday that they are calling up Adam Jones on Friday. And Guillen went off in this Geoff Baker blog post. Sooner or later Mt. Guillen will erupt and the M's may just melt down.
• The King pitched OK Wednesday, but not like royalty. According to Ted Miller, Felix is discovering how hard it is to wear the crown so early.
• Richie Sexson, hitting below the Mendoza line, has finally been benched. Well, sort of. He's now sharing more time with Ben Broussard.
• The M's have another shortstop prospect in the minors, Carlos Triunfel. And they also have one of their minor league relievers in the bigs and helping.
• And here is our question of the day …
• Is this the right time to bring up Adam Jones?