Two years into a five-year, $64 million contract, Adrian Beltre has produced a .262 average, 44 home runs, and 176 RBIs. However, after the All Star break in 2006, Beltre slugged .552 with a whopping 18 home runs. Does this strong second half bode well for a turn-around in 2007, or will Mariners fans have to deal with 'A-Drain' once again? This blog intends to follow the 2007 season for Adrian Beltre, and the Seattle Mariners, and promises to hold no punches.
I should've known better than to pick Jarrod Washburn to beat a team he's been dominating throughout his career. I guess it's a safe bet to state that he won't pick up a victory on the remainder of the season. Jarrod did get off to a hot start to yesterday's ballgame, striking out five Tampa Bay batters in the first three innings before Carlos Pena hit his 40th home-run, becoming the first Tampa Bay batter to do so. But despite his strong start, Washburn faltered in the fifth inning as he allowed two doubles and three walks before being relieved for John Huber, who needed one pitch to induce an inning-ending double play.
They key to the Devil Rays' 9-2 win was the strong pitching of Tampa Bay starter Andy Sonnastine, who tapped into the reservoir of talent that allowed him to shut-out the Yankees last month. Sonnastine was also the benefit of luck, as the Mariners had him in jams in the fifth and sixth innings- with the bases loaded and no outs in the sixth- which Sonnastine was able to weasel his way out of. In the end, Sonnastine finished with eight strikeouts, six hits, and one run allowed- Adrian Beltre's fourth inning- in his dominating start. In the four game series, Devil Ray starts were 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA in 27 innings, striking 30 while walking three. Not sure if the Mariners took the Devil Rays starts likely, but if they do it's apparent they can't any more.
Beltre, who wetn 2-for-3 on the day to bring his average to .281, provided one of the only highlights for the M's with his home-run. It was his 25th home-run, his second consecutive season reaching that number. The other highlight was provided by Charles Jimerson, the speedy outfielder plucked from the Astros system, who hit his second career home-run in the majors in only his second at-bat on the season. And that was about it for the M's.
The M's go back on the road (so much for righting their season at home) to face the Athletics in Oakland. Tonight's start is a rematch of last Wedensday's match-up of Miguel Batista and Danny Haren. The M's rallied to win that game 6-5 on Yuniesky Betancourt's clutch ninth-inning single. Batista provided one of his strongest starts on the season- allowing three runs on eight hits over six innings, while Dan Haren was batted around by the M's who, despite picking up 12 hits against Haren, was held to just four runs by the A's ace.
So are we going to see a replay of last week's ball-game? Not likely. Not with the slumber the M's offense has fallen into. I'm picking the A's to win tonight's game, by a 8-5 score....
They key to the Devil Rays' 9-2 win was the strong pitching of Tampa Bay starter Andy Sonnastine, who tapped into the reservoir of talent that allowed him to shut-out the Yankees last month. Sonnastine was also the benefit of luck, as the Mariners had him in jams in the fifth and sixth innings- with the bases loaded and no outs in the sixth- which Sonnastine was able to weasel his way out of. In the end, Sonnastine finished with eight strikeouts, six hits, and one run allowed- Adrian Beltre's fourth inning- in his dominating start. In the four game series, Devil Ray starts were 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA in 27 innings, striking 30 while walking three. Not sure if the Mariners took the Devil Rays starts likely, but if they do it's apparent they can't any more.
Beltre, who wetn 2-for-3 on the day to bring his average to .281, provided one of the only highlights for the M's with his home-run. It was his 25th home-run, his second consecutive season reaching that number. The other highlight was provided by Charles Jimerson, the speedy outfielder plucked from the Astros system, who hit his second career home-run in the majors in only his second at-bat on the season. And that was about it for the M's.
The M's go back on the road (so much for righting their season at home) to face the Athletics in Oakland. Tonight's start is a rematch of last Wedensday's match-up of Miguel Batista and Danny Haren. The M's rallied to win that game 6-5 on Yuniesky Betancourt's clutch ninth-inning single. Batista provided one of his strongest starts on the season- allowing three runs on eight hits over six innings, while Dan Haren was batted around by the M's who, despite picking up 12 hits against Haren, was held to just four runs by the A's ace.
So are we going to see a replay of last week's ball-game? Not likely. Not with the slumber the M's offense has fallen into. I'm picking the A's to win tonight's game, by a 8-5 score....
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