Relievers create believers
SEATTLE – Julio Mateo walked over to the sheriff’s deputy on duty, borrowed his handcuffs and locked rookie Mark Lowe to the bullpen railing for the next 3 1/2 innings.
It’s about the only time Lowe’s been held back.
Lowe, Mateo and an eclectic crew of talented relievers are a big reason why the Seattle Mariners, who have begun an 11-game road trip, are still in the American League West race, despite losses the last two nights at Texas.
Seattle hit the road with the fifth-best bullpen ERA in baseball at 3.66, highlighted by Lowe’s remarkable rookie performance and the development of closer J.J. Putz.
“We’re aggressive, we’re confident, and we’re just having fun,” Putz said.
Perhaps no one fits that description more than Lowe, the 23-year-old who was called up from Double-A San Antonio in early July, and has proceeded to set the franchise record for consecutive scoreless innings to start a career. In 11 appearances, Lowe has pitched 14 2/3 scoreless innings, bettering the previous franchise mark held by Pat Rice with 13 shutout innings in 1991. Perhaps no performance was more impressive than Lowe’s first.
Facing Detroit, the team with the best record in baseball, Lowe loaded the bases with none out on July 7. After a momentary visit by pitching coach Rafael Chaves, Lowe turned around and got out of the inning unscathed with two strikeouts and a weak groundball.
Lowe hasn’t looked back – using his 97 mph fastball and wicked slider to bolster Seattle’s relief corps. He’s 1-0 with 17 strikeouts and has allowed only eight hits – not too shabby for someone who started the season at Single-A Inland Empire.
“It’s unbelievable. I wake up in the morning and get to come in here, and not only do I get to come in here, but I’m having the most success I’ve ever had at any level and it’s at the big league level,” Lowe said. “I’m doing just as well here as I have anywhere else all season. It’s more than I could have ever asked for.”
Manager Mike Hargrove, who regularly lauds Lowe as “golden,” is most impressed with Lowe’s maturity. Earlier this week, Lowe felt a slight twinge in his elbow and was given a few days of rest.
“To have a 23-year-old kid come in after spending just a half of a season in Double-A, and for him to do what he’s done speaks volumes about him,” Hargrove said.
While Lowe is garnering the attention of late, Putz is thriving in his first full season as the team’s closer. Putz took over for the demoted, and later traded, Eddie Guardado early in the season and has converted 25 of 29 save opportunities.
Putz is the back-end of a bullpen that fully understands its roles. Mateo and lefty Jake Woods have been solid in long relief. Left-hander George Sherrill, Lowe and righty Rafael Soriano are handling most seventh- and eighth-inning situations, before turning it over to Putz in the ninth.
On Monday, Mateo, Sherrill, Soriano and Putz combined in that order to pitch 4 2/3 scoreless innings in a win over Tampa Bay. Sherrill said the pen pitchers are getting a little tired, but still have another six weeks of pitching in their arms.
“There are a lot of good arms out there,” Putz said. “Most of us have been here a couple of years and for a lot of us, things have just clicked and come together this year.”