Seattle Mariners Game 64: Mariners 3 Blue Jays 2

Washburn looked good in this one. That is not always something we can say about him after games, but he pitched well. 6 innings, 5 hits, 1 earned run, 3 walks and 4 strikeouts. For our 4 starter this is not a bad outing. He pitched well enough the entire time he was out there to give his team a chance to win. He left with a 2-1 lead but the bullpen gave up a run in the 7th to tie the game. Washburn ended up with the no decision.

Jose Vidro crushed a 2 run HR in the first inning to give them Mariners a quick 2-0 lead. That was all the offense they could muster though until the top of the 10th inning when Miguel Cairo bunted home the runner from 3rd with the bases loaded. Cairo had come into the game to pinch run for Sexson in the 9th inning and stayed in the game afterwards. The Mariners headed to the bottom of the 10th with a 1 run lead and closer JJ Putz heading into the game.

JJ got it done, but barely. First Vernon Wells lined a ball to right field which should have been an automatic out except for the fact that right fielder Wladimir Balentien dropped the ball. JJ then gave up a single to Rod Barajas and then walked Brad Wilkerson to load the bases with nobody out. YIKES! Perhaps JJ had a horseshoe up his butt because Lyle Overbay came to the plate next and grounded out to 1st basemen Miguel Cairo who promptly threw to home plate to get the lead runner and Johjima threw the ball back to Cairo to get Overbay at 1st. Excellent double play started by Cairo. JJ went on to walk the next batter to once again load the bases. YIKES! Once again the Blue Jays had the tying run 90 feet away. The way JJ was throwing the ball I really had no confidence he would get it done. But thank goodness he was able to get David Eckstein to fly out to end the game. JJ ended up with the win and Mariners started off on the right foot in Toronto.

Carlos Silva will take the mound in game 2 of this series. Carlos has struggled as of late but did pitch well in his last outing vs the Angels. Hopefully we can see more consistency from him.