SB Nation Seattle - Mariners Find A New Way To Lose, Fall To Texas On Walk-Off Strikeouthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48997/seattle-fave.png2010-09-30T10:01:39-07:00http://seattle.sbnation.com/rss/stream/14838192010-09-30T10:01:39-07:002010-09-30T10:01:39-07:00Video: Mariners-Rangers Walk-Off Strikeout
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<p><span class="caps">MLB</span>.com has video of the wild finish in yesterday’s Mariners-<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a> game. With two out and a runner on first, <span>Dan Cortes</span> struck out Nelson Cruz on a wild pitch. What ensued was a hilarious sequence of events, leading to the Rangers winning on a strikeout.</p>
<p>Video can be found <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?c_id=mlb&content_id=12573033&query=game_pk%3D266178" target="new">here</a>.</p>
<p>Since I can’t do it justice like Lookout Landing’s Jeff Sullivan, here’s a <a href="http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2010/9/29/1720272/61-97-game-thoughts" target="new">piece of his description</a>.</p>
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Seattle Mariners</a> are 61-97. They’ve lost a lot. They haven’t lost in every way possible. Rather, one of our principal complaints is that they seem to lose the same game almost every single day. Today, though, they got something new and checked off one of the biggies. You don’t need to cross off every square to be the grand champion of Loser Bingo.</p>
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https://seattle.sbnation.com/seattle-mariners/2010/9/30/1722623/seattle-mariners-texas-ranger-walk-off-strikeout-videoBrian Floyd2010-09-29T14:20:10-07:002010-09-29T14:20:10-07:00Mariners Lose On A Walk-Off Strikeout (Seriously)
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<p>I didn’t think the Mariners could find any more creative ways to lose this year, but they outdid themselves today.</p>
<p>In the bottom of the ninth, with two outs and a runner on second, <span>Dan Cortes</span> struck-out Nelson Cruz on a ball in the dirt. Mariners catcher Quillermo Quiroz threw down to first to complete the play, but missed badly, throwing the ball into right field. In the craziness that ensued, <span>Mitch Moreland</span> came all the way around from first to score the winning run, ending the game and sending the Mariners home with one of the weirdest, yet most hilarious, losses I’ve ever seen.</p>
<p>Your 2010 <a href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Seattle Mariners</a>: Finding new and exciting ways to lose. Believe big!</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/seattle-mariners/2010/9/29/1720162/seattle-mariners-texas-rangers-walkoff-strikeout-throwing-errorBrian Floyd2010-09-29T13:32:32-07:002010-09-29T13:32:32-07:00Mark Lowe Off The DL, In To Face Former Team
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<p>Fresh off the disable list, <span>Mark Lowe</span> is in to pitch for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a> against his former team in Arlington. Lowe entered the game in the eighth inning after being activated ahead of this morning’s game.</p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Mariners</a> lead the Rangers 5-2 in the top of the eighth.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/seattle-mariners/2010/9/29/1720057/seattle-mariners-texas-rangers-mark-loweBrian Floyd2010-09-29T11:54:32-07:002010-09-29T11:54:32-07:00Justin Smoak Goes Yard For Third Time In Three Days
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<p>For the third time in three days, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/">Seattle Mariners</a> prospect <span>Justin Smoak</span> went yard against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a>. Facing the team that traded him this summer, Smoak is out to prove he’s the real deal, something that should make Mariners fans very excited for the future.</p>
<p>Smoaks two-run homer in the second inning gave the Mariners a 2-0 lead.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/seattle-mariners/2010/9/29/1719853/seattle-mariners-texas-rangers-justin-smoak-homerunBrian Floyd2010-09-29T11:25:58-07:002010-09-29T11:25:58-07:00Mariners Look For Two Straight Against Division Rival Texas (NOW on FSN)
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<p>(<a target="_blank" href="http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=mlb/scores/live/preview.aspx?id=28192">Sports Network</a>) - <span>Rich Harden</span> makes his first start in a month this afternoon when the <a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Texas Rangers</a> try to salvage the finale of their three-game series with the <a href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Seattle Mariners</a> at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.</p>
<p>Harden, who is 5-5 with a 5.42 earned run average on the year, absorbed the loss in his last start back on August 28 against Oakland, as he allowed four runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings. He has pitched twice in relief since but has not recorded a decision.</p>
<p>"That's the big thing I've struggled with -- is finding consistency," Harden said after his last start. "I guess that's been the key to this season. I feel close, I feel good. ... Tonight I just missed with a few pitches. I felt I had a good off-speed pitch going. It's just frustrating."</p>
<p>In 11 games (eight starts) against the Mariners, Harden is 5-2 with a 1.90 ERA.</p>
<p>Texas can only hope Harden gives it the type of performance AL Cy Young Award candidate <span>Felix Hernandez</span> put forth on Tuesday. Hernandez pitched eight stellar innings to lead Seattle to a 3-1 win.</p>
<p>Hernandez (13-12) allowed one run on five hits with five strikeouts for the Mariners, who have won three straight following a three-game skid.</p>
<p>"I would say he is," said Rangers manager Ron Washington about Hernandez, in regard to the AL Cy Young Award. "He has electric stuff. He can sink it, he can run it, he can spin it, he can change it, and when he smells the finish line, he can get there."</p>
<p><span>Justin Smoak</span>, who was drafted by the Rangers and made his major league debut with them this season, hit a two-run homer in the victory.</p>
<p>"It always means something when you do something to help your team win," Smoak said. "But against them, yeah, it means a little more, especially right now."</p>
<p><span>Scott Feldman</span> suffered the loss in a brief outing. Feldman (7-11) allowed three runs on five hits over 4 1/3 innings of work for the AL West-champion Rangers, who are waiting to see how things shake out in terms of their potential playoff opponent.</p>
<p>Heading to the hill for the Mariners today will be left-hander Jason Vargas, who has lost his last seven starts - one shy of a franchise record shared by <span>Randy Johnson</span> (1992) and Rick Honeycutt (1980).</p>
<p>Vargas' most recent loss came on Friday against Tampa Bay, which ripped him for five runs in 4 1/3 innings. He is 9-12 on the year to go along with a 3.91 ERA.</p>
<p>The road hasn't been kind to Vargas, who is 2-7 with a 5.20 ERA in 14 starts away from Safeco Field.</p>
<p>Vargas lost to the Rangers two starts ago and is 1-3 lifetime against them with a 5.81 ERA in seven games, five of which have been starts.</p>
<p>Texas is 11-7 against the Mariners this season.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/2010/9/29/2321795/mariners-look-for-two-straight-against-division-rival-texas-now-on-fsnBrian Floyd