Blowers Delivered From Rut Career Game Against Boston Ended Slump For This Mariner
The pressure on Mike Blowers to produce has been building. With each night, with each at bat, with each failure.
Throughout his career, the Seattle Mariners’ third baseman never has been a fast starter. Still, he never had experienced anything like his miserable 1995 start.
Because of his past success (a .258 career batting average and a lifetime-best .274 last season), Blowers knew his season-long slump (.118, 6-for-51, including 0 for 29 against righthanders) would end. At least he hoped so.
On Wednesday night, it all came together for Blowers. He had a dream game, going 4 for 5 and tying a Mariners’ club record with eight RBIs. He hit his first home run of the season, his first triple of the year and two doubles in Seattle’s 15-6 win over Boston.
In the Mariners’ 19-year history, no player had had four extra-base hits in a game. Only Alvin Davis (against Toronto May 9, 1986) had eight RBIs in a game for the M’s.
“Eight RBIs,” manager Lou Piniella said. “That’s a good week’s production. For some guys, it’s a month.”
Blowers had only seven RBIs coming into the game.
“I’m glad I finally found something that works,” Blowers said.
How big was Blowers’ night?
“This was huge,” he said. “Mentally, it’s been such a grind. I just needed to break out. It’s just nice to come out and do something to help the club win.”
The pressure is on all the Mariners this season. Piniella needs to win. The players need to win. This may be the most important season for the franchise that has had only two winning seasons since 1977.
The Mariners are trying to get someone - the voters or the politicians - to help build them a $280 million retractable-roof stadium that the club’s ownership says is important to keep majorleague baseball in Seattle. They know they must convince people on the field that they’re important enough to keep.
The pressure that Piniella feels is felt by his players.
As a platoon player throughout his career, Blowers desperately wanted to stay in the lineup as an every-day player. Still, he understood Piniella’s dilemma.