By Patrick
 |
| My Boy |
After a bit of a challenging couple of days in New York, the M's finally let loose and got Kevin "Old Man Jenkins" Millwood his first win of the year. Millwood pitched well, but also benefitted from three key double plays, including one that erased a bases loaded one-out jam in the fifth. He went seven solid innings, allowing just one run, and he walked that one in. In fact, both of the Yankee runs in the 6-2 Mariner win scored off of bases loaded walks.
In other news, Justin Smoak busted out of his extra-base hit slump and hit his first home run since April 26. It was his first homer off of a lefty since last June. Overall, Smoak went 6-for-12 in the series with the homer and five singles. Casper Wells also joined the homer party with a bank job off the right field foul pole. He's a New Yorker, so you love to see that, especially in front of his mom on Mothers' Day.
Now the Mariners travel to old Fenway Park to take on the embattled Red Sox who sit in dead last in the AL East. Recently however, the Red Sox have been red hot, as they swept away the team from the land of misfit Mariners, the Indians, over the weekend. Boston will throw their top two starters at the M's in the brief series, in the persons of Jon Lester and Josh Beckett. These tweo have struggled so far in 2012, so maybe the M's can take advantage and snap the Red Sox's hot streak.
May 14: Mr. Consistency (4-2, 2.79) vs. Jon Lestahhhhh (1-3, 4.29)
Jason Vargas spun a gem last time out in the series clincher against Detroit, going eight innings and allowing only one run on five hits. That win helped the Mariners take two series from Detroit in as many weeks. Vargas has completely reshaped his game in 2012, and looks to take his newly improved style into Fenway to oppose the local boy, Jon Lester. Jon Lester attended Bellarmine Prep High School in Tacoma. On the plus side, he understands the benefits of Jesuit education. On the downside, he grew up in Tacoma. Bummer dude. Lester has been pitching like the noxious fumes are finally getting to his head after all these years. My fantasy team has been adversely affected this. So have the Red Sox. I've always liked Lester, but he's always struggled a little bit and not always been 100% consistent. Then again, he's a cancer survivor. Hard not to cheer for Lester.
Players to Watch:
Casper Wells: I tweeted yesterday that Wells' homer and Carp's GIDP with the bases loaded would move Wells into left field for Monday's game. Voila! I was right. Now it's time for Casper to show us something. Sure, another homer would be nice. But I really like his gap power and ability to spray the ball all over the field. I want him to grab two hits tonight, a single and a double, and then see if the M's can knock him in and make a game of it. Plus, as a Yankee fan growing up, you know Wells wants to stick it to "the Nation." I'm all for it.
David Ortiz: You no Big Papi! That was an old New Era commercial where the Japanese guy got confused for David Ortiz because he was wearing his authentic jersey. Shout out to New Era, I love your work. Anyway, many people though Papi was cooked after he struggled in 2010 and 2011. Not so much. He's hitting .348 with seven homers and 25 RBIs this year. Shit. Watch out Vargas. Fortunately, that lefty-lefty matchup should help him out quite a bit.
Prediction:
Mariners 5, Red Sox 2: One reason why I make this pick: Jason Vargas. The guy has dominated so far this year, and could make a really big statement tonight with another win. Lester has struggled but the Red Sox are hot, so he's not facing any real urgent situation like Beckett is. I think Smoaky will get another hit tonight, I think Casper Wells stays hot and I like Jesus Montero's chances of curling one around Pesky's Pole. The Sox will be no match for Mr. Consistency's new abilities, and the M's take game one. Go M's.
No comments:
Post a Comment