So the Mariners were all primed to sweep this three-game series against the Rangers, with Felix Hernandez delivering a King-like performance on the mound. However, once again the game devolved into a 2-2 grudge-match and was decided by a showdown of the team's bullpens. This time around, extra innings were averted as the Rangers were able to scratch a couple of runs out against Jon Huber in the top of the ninth inning and Texas' ace closer Akinori Otsuka got the save in the ninth by coaxing a double-play grounder from Jose Lopez with two runners on.

Felix's start may have been King-like, allowing eight baserunners and one run in 5.2 innings, but once again Felix was done in by his figurative Achille's heel, high pitch counts. That's going to happen with power pitchers that rack up a good number of strike-outs. However, regardless of how great it is to see Felix tally up some impressive strikeout numbers, he would simply be more effective if he were able to induce groundballs at a better rate. It would reduce the number of pitches on his arm, and allow him to stay longer in the game. As it was, Felix couldn't make it through the sixth inning after throwing 105 pitches, forcing him to hand the ball over to a much-taxed bullpen.

Though it was unfortunate that Jon Huber had to pick up his first major-league loss after picking up his first win, for a 25-year old in his fifth career appearance it's asking a lot to shut down a team with such an offensively potent line-up as the Rangers' for two nights in a row. And the player that did him in was the much-maligned Michael Young, who knocked in the go ahead run with his third hit of the ball-game. The folks over at USS Mariner may consider Michael Young to be one of the game's most "over-rated" ball-players- saying that his numbers have been inflated by playing at Arlington- but if you look over his page at Hardball Times there is much to like about Young's production. Consistently batting between .342 to .374 with runners in scoring position over the past few years? Creating between 6 to 7.4 runs per game during that span? Having clutch factor of 11 so far this year?

I'm sorry, I know that both Jose Lopez and Yuniesky Betancourt have tremendous upside, but Young himself has yet to reach thirty. His numbers at Safeco may not be eye-popping fantastic- .274 career average and .693 OPS, but they are better than Lopez's (.249-.672) and comparable to Betancourt's (.284-.700). If Young is feeling no longer welcome in Arlington, Seattle should make a chance to add him to the roster. Seeing a Ichiro-Young tandem at the top of the order would be fantastic.

At any rate, the loss in today's game deprives the M's a shot at a four-game winning streak and leaves them at 67-73, a precarious nine games from the sub-.500 edge. Toronto rolls into town, and Seattle has had success against the Blue Jays this year. Well, success being measured by the fact that the teams have split six games, thus the Mariners have a better winning percentage against the Blue Jays than they do the rest of baseball. Plus, the Blue Jays come into town scuffling, having lost two of three from the Angels in the first leg of their West Coast trip.

Ted Lilly takes the mound for the Blue Jays in tomorrow night's game. And though he might not have the best of career numbers versus the M's- 3-6 record with a 6.24 ERA- Lilly will always have a spot as a "Mariner killer" in my heart when he stymied the M's on three hits in six innings for Oakldn in an eventual 12-0 victory for the A's in late Septemmber, as the M's and the A's were racing each other down to the wire for the AL West divison championship. The M's were out of it at that point, but it was the final twist of the knife into the heart of Mariners' fans, as their last competitive season wound down to a disappointing conclusion.

At any rate, this is Lilly's first start against the Mariners this season. Ichiro, who is now one hit behind Michael Young in the chase for most hits in the league (192 to 193) is lookign forward to facing Lilly, as Ichiro holds a career .345 average against Ted in 29 at-bats. Adrian Beltre, who should be back in the line-up tomorrow, has also hit Lilly well, with a .444 average and one home-run against Ted in nine at-bats. However, the M's clean-up hitter, Raul Ibanez, has struggled against Lilly, collecting just two hits in ten career at-bats, with four strike-outs.

Attemtping to keep the M's losing streak to just one is Jake Woods, who takes the mound to challenge Lilly. Woods is fresh from allowing three runs in four innings in a rain-interuppted start at Detroit last week. And when you consider all of those runs came in the first inning, Woods had no problem correcting himself and limiting the Tigers' line-up the rest of the game, before a near two-hour rain dealy chased him from the mound. Woods owns a career 5.06 ERA in 5.1 innings against Toronto, all in relief. Outfielder Frank Catalanatto has hit the Blue Jays' only home-run off Woods.

I see the game being close, with Woods keeping the M's in game for the most part. I wouldn't be surprised if the game is decided, once again, by the teams' bull-pens. Still, I think the Blue Jays have the edge in this one, eking out a 6-4 victory.

Unless, of course, Adrian returns rejuvenated from the birth of his son (not daughter as I erronously reported) Adrian Jr. and slugs three home runs. Welcome back, Adrian! And congratulations!