M’s Sweep Sliding Tribe

Manager Bill Keller said after the game, “The Tribe is in trouble”.  What an understatement.  Just 2 weeks ago they were the darlings of the KOD world.  Now they seem to be in free fall and after this series they are barely clinging to a 2 game lead in the AL East over the Yanks.  Seattle, on the other hand, swept their way in to resurrecting their season.  At 13-12 they are in the thick of the Wild Card race and only 3 behind Oakland in the division.

9/8 – 9/10 – Kingdome

GAME 1 – Mariners 4, Indians 2

Erik Hanson (2-2, 3.67) had a shutout going for 7 innings, then yielded 2 runs that made the score look closer than the game was.  Seattle chipped away at Cleveland starter Hal Woodeshick (0-2, 3.86) with solo runs in the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 6th.  Leadoff hitter Rich Amaral went 3 for 5 and inched his way close to the Mendoza line (.198).  4 different M’s had RBI’s.  Seattle refused to pitch to Colavito, who walked twice and fanned once chasing anything to hit.  Steve Ontiveros came on and bailed out Hanson in the 9th for his first save of the season.

GAME 2 – Mariners 3, Indians 0

Cal McLish (4-2, 2.25) couldn’t be blamed for this one.  Giving up 3 runs in a complete game effort and not even having a chance to win means your offense completely went south on you.  Seattle jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first and with the way the Tribe has been hitting of late you could have turned your TV sets off right then and there.  After Rich Amaral received a leadoff walk he then stole second and moved to third on Omar Vizquel’s ground out.  Junior Griffey was pitched around and walked.  “How can you trade” Jay Buhner was riled up and he singled home Amaral.  Tino Martinez singled to load the bases and Mike Blowers lifted a sac fly to  deep center to score Griffey.  Blowers helped add an insurance run in the 6th, when he again singled home Griffey.  All the while Dave Fleming (2-2, 2.63) was cruising.  After yielding only 3 hits and no runs he was lifted due to fatigue in favor of Jeff Nelson who closed it out for his 4th save.

9/11 – CLE Municipal Stadium – Double Header

GAME 3 – Mariners 3, Indians 0

The “Big Unit”, Randy Johnson (3-0, 0.92) was dominant.  He fanned 8 and allowed only 1 hit over 5+ innings until he tweaked his shoulder and had to come out.  This is the 3rd time this season that he has had to exit a game early due to injury.  Manager Hopcroft was impressed by Johnson’s performance, but upset by his lack of durability.  Jim “Mudcat” Grant (2-2, 2.74) was going toe to toe with the “Big Unit” until Seattle broke through with 2 in the 5th.  The anemic Tribe bats could not score on both Bob Ayrault and Norm Charlton (5th save) and for the second straight game they were shut out 3-0.  Rich Amaral has come back to life in the lead off spot for the M’s.  Going 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored and raising his avg t0 .222.  Colavito took the collar (0-4) and saw his average drop under .400.  Tino Matinez had 2 RBI.

GAME 4 – Mariners 7, Indians 1

The non-existent Tribe Offense succeeded in making Chris Bosio (3-1, (2.55) look like a Cy Young candidate.  In this contest the M’s broke out and didn’t even allow Cleveland the chance to think there was any hope.  Ken Griffey Jr. went 2 for 5 with 3 RBI and hit his 6th homer of the season.  Tino had his 3rd homer in a 2-4 effort.  Rocky Colavito did go 2-3 and raised his average just under .400 with a .396 posting.  Veteran Bob Lemon saw some action in garbage time and tossed 2 scoreless innings despite walking 3.