The Seattle Mariners hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday afternoon, less than 24 hours after six pitchers combined to no-hit the visitors, who hold the best record in baseball. On Saturday, the Mariners were not quite as lucky, as the Dodgers evened the series with an 8-3 win.
Starter Jason Vargas made one big mistake in the top of the first inning, serving up a fastball right down the middle to Jerry Hairston Jr. with two out and first base open. The result was Hairston depositing the ball in the left field bleachers, giving the Dodgers a quick 3-0 lead.
Vargas again challenged Hairston in the top of the third and Hairston nearly launched another home run into the left field seats. Nevertheless, Hairston ended up with an RBI double off the wall and came in to score on a James Loney single, making it 5-0 Los Angeles.
The Mariners managed a three-run homer of their own in the bottom of the fourth, as Miguel Olivo went yard to cut the lead to 5-3, but that was as close as the M's would be able to get.
Hairston hit another RBI double in the top of the eighth inning and the Dodgers would tack on two more runs in the ninth on a fielder's choice and a sacrifice fly. Hairston finished the game 3-for-4 with five RBI. Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw lived up to his billing as the reigning NL Cy Young winner, as he struck out 12 Mariners in seven innings of work, allowing just three hits and two walks.
The Mariners will still have a chance to win the interleague series in the rubber game on Sunday.
For all news and information regarding the Seattle Mariners, please visit Lookout Landing. For updates and perspective on the Los Angeles Dodgers, head on over to True Blue LA or stop by SB Nation Los Angeles.
