So of course after my kvetching about the Mariners' starting pitching, 17 shutout innings are tossed by Jeff Weaver and Felix Hernandez. Which begs the chicken-or-egg question: has the Mariners' starting rotation indeed rediscovered their confidence, or is it merely the futility of the Pirates' woeful offense? More than likely, it's a combination of both, as the AP story states that the combined records of four of five pitchers who have shut-out the Pirates this year- Kameron Loe, Kyle Lohse, Weaver, and Felix- were 5-22 at the time they tossed their shutouts. Got struggling starting pitching? The Pirates' offense will cure what ails you.

According to his post-game interview with Shannon Dreyer, Felix insisted that all he needed to do was rediscover the balance that he was lacking since the beginning of the season, when he got off to such a dominant start. If that was all that was lacking, then he rediscovered it, and hopefully the Felix that struggled to a 1-3 and record and 5.97 ERA in the six starts since his return from his month-long stint on the DL is history. Felix used his high 90-mph fastball to take advantage of the Pirates' free-swinging ways, picking up eleven first-pitch strikes against the team with the second-lowest on-base percentage and second-fewest hits in the National League. Thanks to the Pirates, Felix made eight scoreless innings look easy.

John Van Benschoten was once again betrayed by the offensive futility of his team, who have now scored a total of one run in his two starts. Van Benschoten has allowed just five runs and a .225 opponent's batting average in his two starts, with nothing to show for it. Could you imagine a worse fate than being a talented starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates?

Ichiro extended his hitting streak to sixteen games with a double in the third inning. Ichiro's RBI single in the fifth capped an epic eleven-pitch battle between Ichiro and Van Benschoten who was throwing everything including the kitchen sink in a futile struggle to get Ichiro out. Afterwards Van Benschoten was quoted as saying, "I should have just thrown the ball down the middle and let him do whatever," with the frustration making itself apparent regardless of whether the you hear the words live or read them in print. After Ichiro's single, Jose Lopez followed with a two-run double, and with Felix being at the top of his game, that was all that was needed.

Adrian Beltre contributed another 1-for-4 night, maintaining his average at .270. Richie Sexson's 0-for-3 night dropped his average to .206. One wonders how the M's bats will be able to handle the Cinncinatti Reds, another of the NL's worst pitching staffs.

Tonight will be the Ken Griffey Jr.-love fest and regardless of who you are, if you're a Seattle baseball fan, you'll have a lump in your throat as Junior will be honored in a pre-game ceremony. If it wasn't for the efforts of Junior, there may not have been a Safeco Field or, indeed, any Mariners baseball in Seattle. Everyone has there own favorite Junior moments- I saw him hit that double versus the A's in his first major-league at-bat, listened to him climb the centerfield wall to take a way a sure home run from Jesse barfield in Yankee Stadium, and, of course, that iconic scramble around the basepaths to beat the Yankees in the 1995 playoffs- and tonight will be a great opportunity to revel in them.

And you know Griffey will ride that emotional wave to hit a couple home runs in one of this weekend's games. My money will be on tonight's. Ryan Feierabend will be hard-pressed to duplicate the starts provided by Weaver and Felix over the past two nights. Stepping into replace the ineffective Cha Seung Baek in the M's rotation, Feierabend will make his first appearance as a starter since beating the Rangers on June 3rd. No Reds batters have faced Feierabend yet in his young major-league career, and usually I interpret that as an edge for the pitcher, but I wouldn't be surprised if Feierabend will get distracted by the emotions that will be on the field. Obviously, I'd like to see him overcome the attention and continue the trend of starting pitching. Either way, I'm sure he'll strike out Adam Dunn a couple of times.

The Mariners' bats will have their work cut out for them as they face the Reds' ace, Aaron Harang. Though Dunn and Griffey have been having All-Star type seasons, Harang's numbers on the year (7-2, 3.88 ERA, 90 strikeouts in 99.2 innings) demand a case that he should be considred for the national League's pitching staff. Harang holds a career 2.11 ERA versus the Mariners, but has lost all three decisions against Seattle, the last time was allowing two runs in seven innings in 2003. Ichiro may not be able to continue his hitting streak tonight, as he has been hitless in ten career at-bats against Harang. Adrian Beltre has the only home-run off Harang by the current Mariners' batters, Beltre's only hit in five at-bats.

So I don't believe the Junior love-fest will translate into a victory for the Mariners. Harang won't be as dominating as he's been against the Mariners in the past, as both sides will be jazzed up and runs will score. I think a big night at the plate from Junior, however, will help the Reds to victory, with a score along the lines of 8-6.

Pity Junior. As with every former Mariner player (which even includes A-Rod), I'd like to see him win a championship. And that's not going to happen any time soon. It might be the best choice at this point in his career if Junior jumps at the opportunity to be traded to an American League team where his skills at the plate and in the field (but mostly at the plate) could help a team on the verge of contending for a playoff spot get that extra push to the post-season. A team like... the Seattle Mariners perhaps?