Game 51
soul. crushing. defeat.
When two of my pitchers square off, it can’t be good for me. But tonight, it wasn’t good for either of them
Ichiro is, of course, Ichiro, and he started off the first inning like he usually does. With a blistering single up the middle. David Eckstein tried to do the same earlier, but it was a former roto M’s player that started Villone’s slide, mere seconds after I told my buddy that Tim Salmon couldn’t hit left handers.
Oops.
Villone left the game with a beauty on the line. Of course, he is now the recipient of the “Freddy Garcia can’t win for trying” award, as once again the bullpen blows it wide open.
As written by Chris Hester, of MLB.com:
“Ron Villone pitched well in his third start of the season and for the third time received no decision. The left-hander has allowed just three earned runs in 16 innings as a starter for a 1.69 ERA. Saturday night, Villone worked 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on six hits before turning a 3-2 lead over to the bullpen. ”
That really sucked. Of course, Sele wasn’t much better.
“The Anaheim right-hander was on the hook for the loss after allowing three runs in six innings of work until his offense pitched in with a five-run seventh off the Mariners bullpen. ”
I just give up. Good thing I didn’t go for Ramon Ortiz when I wanted to last week.
Because he’s starting against Joel Pineiro tomorrow afternoon. And it would be painful to have Joel pitch his heart out again for no victory, only to have Ortiz luck into one when the bullpen collapses.
This can’t go on, as Mr. Heinlein said.
Bucky’s BA is down to Edgar level, and Leone is succumbing quickly to the Mariners 3B curse. Justin did go 1-2, with two walks tonight, that’s a step in the right direction.
Ichiro, 3-5. I’d put out his “on fire” status, but I’m hoping he takes it all the way to another MVP season. Although, I think Ivan Rodriguez might have something to say about that, come October.