M’s Madritsch masterful
SEATTLE – Ichiro Suzuki’s pursuit of history isn’t the only compelling storyline surrounding the Seattle Mariners these days.
Seattle pitcher Bobby Madritsch is using the final month of the season as a springboard toward earning a spot in the Mariners’ starting rotation in 2005.
From the looks of things Tuesday night, that leap might not be far anymore.
The 28-year-old rookie left-hander took a shutout into the ninth inning before Seattle settled for a 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Angels before 28,406 at Safeco Field.
“Another lineup stacked with right-handed power hitters … you couldn’t ask for more from him,” Seattle manager Bob Melvin said. “He pitched his heart out today.”
For what it’s worth, Ichiro went 1 for 4 with a double in the fifth that got the Mariners their first run. The hit pushed his hit total to 232 for the season.
Ichiro is still on pace to pass George Sisler’s 84-year-old record for most hits in a single season (257).
But the real storyline was the performance of Madritsch, whom two seasons ago was pitching for an independent league team in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Madritsch (5-2) ran his consecutive scoreless innings streak to 16 before the Angels (82-62) scored two runs in the ninth.
But that hardly took the shine off another strong start.
“This has been a confidence builder for me,” said Madritsch, who struck out seven and lowered his earned-run average to 3.03. “I pitch these games like they’re the World Series.”
It might as well be for Madritsch. After all, these aren’t the bottom feeders of the American League that he is mowing down.
His last two starts have seen him defeat the Boston Red Sox and the Angels.
“He’s sneaky,” Anaheim manager Mike Scioscia said. “He’s got a lot of life to his fastball. His pitch count was up and he maintained his stuff. He pitched a good game.”
The Mariners (54-90) gave Madritsch enough offensive support to get him his fifth victory – all coming since his July 21 promotion from Triple-A Tacoma.
“Bobby is one of those power left-handers … he’s like a fighter out there,” Mariners outfielder Hiram Bocachica said.
Leading 1-0 entering the seventh, Seattle made it 3-0 when pinch-hitter Randy Winn drilled a 1-0 fastball from reliever Brendan Donnelly for a two-run homer to center. Bocachica, who started in center field in place of Winn, lined a double into the left-field corner to start the inning, chasing Anaheim starter Jarrod Washburn.