Mariners 6, Twins 2: King Felix Rebounds to Down Minnesota

In a game that saw the Twins strike for first blood off of Felix Hernandez and the Mariners, it was Seattle that had the fight yesterday afternoon. Trevor Plouffe's two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the third looked like a sign of good things to come; King Felix wasn't particularly on his game early, while Ricky Nolasco wasn't giving the visiting team anything to hit.

But a 33-pitch fourth brought Nolasco to earth, and a 24-pitch fifth put the end to his afternoon. In those two frames the Mariners worked long counts and took a 3-2 lead, and they wouldn't give it up. Caleb Thielbar couldn't stop the bleeding in the sixth, allowing an Anthony Swarak inherited runner to score, and he also let home a run in the seventh. A wild pitch from Matt Guerrier in the top of the ninth brought home Seattle's final run, and that's where the game ended at  6-2.

The Twins would put up an occasional single in the later innings, but they never threatened to score again. Minnesota took one walk all afternoon, and was just 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position. Hernandez went on to cruise though eight innings, scattering seven hits and a walk while striking out five. Just another day at the office.

Notes

• Eduardo Escobar keeps his hitting streak going thanks to a fourth inning single. That's now eight straight with a hit.
• Aaron Hicks also keeps the streak alive, going 1-for-2 with a walk to extend his hitting streak to five games. Even in that small streak, his batting average has jumped 38 points, his OBP 36 points, and the SLG 36 points as well. It's a step in the right direction.
• After going ice cold, Trevor Plouffe is 7-for-25 with two walks and five RBI in his last six games.

ROLL CALL!

Studs

Duds