Praying for Runs, Part 3

By Patrick

The future

Um, OK. Nice game boys. Hector Noesi was brilliant, but a homer from Yonder Alonso cost him the game, as the Mariners didn't do shit offensively. Well I guess that's not exactly true. They did get a two hit night from Casper Wells in this return to the big club and a three hit night from quietly surging Jesus Montero. But that's it. This game was so bad that I'm only writing one paragraph about it, a new season-low, in an effort to put it behind the M's. On to today's important game.

June 14: Erasmo Ramirez (0-0, 2.45, first start of the year) vs. Edinson Volquez (2-6, 3.91)

Why is today important? Well, firstly, the Mariners can't morally afford to be swept by the Padres, and they don't want to lose five in a row either. All that aside, the most important part of today's game will be the first major league start from Ramirez. Erasmo pitched a little bit out of the 'pen this year, and performed reasonably well, but didn't leave any sort of definitive impression one way or another before he returned to Tacoma to receive grooming to start. So I guess we don't really know what we're going to get from him. He should be solid enough, and hopefully can sure up a spot in that magical future M's rotation we always discuss on the blog. Volquez is an interesting character. He has great stuff but has really struggled over the last couple of years. A drug suspension hurt his career in 2009. I really don't care who the Padres throw up there ultimately since the Mariners just need to start hitting again. Big day for Erasmo though.

Players to Watch:

Dustin Ackley: Ackley is still going through a rough patch. An 0-for-4 last night puts him at just .244 on the year and continues the calls for him to return to the leadoff spot where he hit so well. He won't go there unless Ichiro absolutely starts sucking, and that hasn't happened yet, even though Ich is hitting only .264. Ackley needs a pair of hits tonight and needs to avoid strikeouts in order to restore his confidence.

Yonder Alonso: Hey! Finally someone else remotely interesting on the Padres. I remember when Anthony mentioned Alonso's name way back in 2011 (long time ago) as a potential offseason target for Erik Bedard. Well, the Red Sox bit on Bedard and we got Trayvon Robinson instead. Alonso instead moved from the Reds to the Padres in the Mat Latos deal. And then he ripped apart Hector Noesi in the 7th inning art night. Damn it. Whatever. Erasmo's got a cooler name.

Prediction:

M's 4, Padres 2: I expect decent numbers from Erasmo in his starting debut. He probably will only go six innings, but the Padres define soft landing and he shouldn't struggle too mightily. The bullpen will excel again and the M's should do just enough damage to Volquez to chase him through five and close out the win, avoid an embarrassing sweep. Then again, I picked the Mariner in every game this series. Damn it. Go M's.