Sunday, July 23, 2006

Mariners Walk-Off With 2 of 3 from Boston


After dropping their first game 9-4 to the Boston Red Sox Friday night the Seattle Mariners came back to win their first three game series this month. A 5-2 win over the Red Sox on Saturday set up Sunday’s rubber match and another huge moment for Richie Sexson.

After Mariners’ closer J.J. Putz gave up a game tying homerun in the top of the 9th inning to Jason Varitek Richie Sexon left off the bottom of the 9th with a game ending walk-off homerun and a 9-8 Seattle win.

While the Mariners were taking two of three from the Red Sox the Athletics lost two of three from the Tigers allowing Seattle to catch up a game in the standings. Still in last place the Mariners are only four games back in a division that is wide open. Oakland sits in first but Texas and LA are both within a game of the Athletics with Seattle sitting four games out.

Seattle must win two of three or sweep their series against Toronto to pull closer to the division lead before traveling to Cleveland for a weekend series. It’s still too early to say that all hope is lost but losing this Toronto series would make hope of winning the division very bleak.

AL West Standings
W L Pct GB
Oakland 51 47 .520 --
Texas 51 48 .515 0.5
LA Angels 50 48 .510 1.0
Seattle 47 51 .480 4.0