On Wednesday afternoon, the Seattle Mariners made their biggest statement of the season so far as they jumped out to a big lead and held on for a 5-3 win in the rubber match of their three-game series against the Texas Rangers.
In the bottom of the second inning, the Mariners loaded the bases on three consecutive walks and brought a run home on a Michael Saunders sacrifice fly, but the moment of the game came in the bottom of the fifth. The Mariners got a walk and a single with one out and the Rangers elected to intentionally walk Dustin Ackley to load the bases for Alex Liddi. Liddi hit a laser beam into the left field bleachers for his first career grand slam to put the Mariners up 5-0. It was just the third Mariners hit of the game.
M's starter Kevin Millwood was once again terrific, allowing no runs through six innings on three hits and a walk,. The Mariners did run into a spot of trouble with their bullpen in the eighth inning, as Tom Wilhelmsen allowed an RBI double to Josh Hamilton, followed by an Adrian Beltre home run that cut the lead to 5-3, but Seattle would hold things there. Brandon League pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for the save.
For all news and information regarding the Seattle Mariners, please visit Lookout Landing. For updates and perspective on the Texas Rangers, head on over to Lone Star Ball or check out SB Nation Dallas.
