ap recap :: box score :: game log
I watched the whole game last night with the sound turned off. I'm really not a fan of TV broadcasters and I find that I get much more out of a game when I'm not bothered by their general inanity.
It was a great game. Seattle came into the game on a 11 game losing streak, 21 games from .500 and 17 games back from division leader Texas. In other words, their season is over. Long-time Mariners are becoming flotsam; they traded their pitching ace Freddy Garcia and have released SS Rich Aurilia, C Pat Borders and 1B John Olerud. I suppose if the ship is going to sink, better to go down without so much salary owed to players.
The game was a pitching duel between Jake Westbrook and Joel Pineiro. Pineiro only made one mistake allowing a slumping Jody Gerut to break out and hit a home run. Westbrook hit a batter and then the Mariner rookie Justin Leone hit his first major league home run. Otherwise, there really wasn't any offensive action.
I was very impressed with Westbrook last night. He was usually ahead in the count early with lots of 0-2 and 1-2 counts. His 37-67 ball-strike count reflects this. Plus, he pitched a complete game so the bullpen could have an extra day of rest. I like his delivery--he doesn't have a lot of extra motion and he doesn't flail about and look like he's tipping over after he releases the ball. He maintained his concentration throughout the game and only had one shaky inning. If he hadn't hit Olivo, even if Leone had hit a home run, that would have only tied the game.
Tonight, Cliff Lee is pitching for Cleveland against the Mariner Travis Blackley. Yours truly will be "in the crowd".
Posted by Elizabeth at July 16, 2004 06:13 PM