Ramon Pounded As M's Even Series (4/5/00)

Today was the complete opposite of yesterday which is typical for Major League Baseball. Yesterday the Mariners were shut out by the mighty Pedro Martinez but tonight was different. The Mariners knocked out older brother Ramon Martinez (0-1, 47.25 ERA) and cruised to a 9-3 win at Safeco Field.

                                                   Placido Flamingo approves of the win

Freddy Garcia (1-0) took the mound and was greeted by a quick Jose Offerman double. John Valentin bunted him over to third but the threat ended when Carl Everett popped up to short and Nomar Garciaparra lined out to third. Seattle struck first in the bottom of the inning. Mike Cameron atoned for his performance yesterday by leading off with a single. Mark McLemore walked and Ramon plunked Alex Rodriguez to load the bases. John Olerud hit a sac fly that scored Cameron. John Mabry followed with a single that scored McLemore and Jay Buhner cleared the bases with a 3 run homer.  Just like that it was 5-0 Seattle. Martinez settled down to strike out David Bell and get Dan Wilson to ground out but the damage was done.

Troy O'Leary led off by flying out and Mike Stanley grounded out. In stepped Brian Daubach for his first at bat of the year and he responded by blasting a home run to cut the deficit 5-1. Jason Varitek singled but Trot Nixon struck out. The bottom of the second was almost as bad. Martinez went wild by walking Guillen, McLemore and Rodriguez (with Cameron popping out in between) as Red Sox manager Jimy Williams had seen enough. Williams yanked the ineffective Martinez in favor of John Wasdin. Way Back picked up where Martinez left off by walking Olerud that scored Guillen. Wasdin struck out Mabry but Buhner also walked to score McLemore. Bell grounded out to third but the Mariners now led 7-1 and the game was only 2 innings in.

Offerman led off the third with a walk but Valentin flied out. Everett singled but Nomar hit a ball to Rodriguez who flipped to Bell to catch the intruding Offerman off guard, forcing a double play. Wasdin came out for the third and got Wilson to fly out to center and getting Guillen to swing at air. Cameron tripled but was erased on the fly out by McLemore.

Garcia returned for the 4th and got O'Leary to pop out then Stanley to fly out. Daubach came to the plate and belted another home run to pull the Sox closer at 7-2. Varitek singled but Nixon flied out to end the threat. Seattle got that run right back as Alex Rodriguez homered off Wasdin to begin the home half of the 4th. Wasdin recovered to strike out Olerud and Mabry but gave up a single to Buhner. Bell flied out to end the threat but Wasdin was pretty much pouring gas on the fire.

Like his last at bat, Offerman led off the 5th with a walk. Valentin grounded into a force which moved Offerman to second but Everett whiffed. Garciaparra flied out and the Sox were pretty much finished. Tim Wakefield replaced Wasdin for the bottom of the 5th (Wasdin walked in 2 runners and gave up the homer to Rodriguez, some relief) and promptly walked Wilson. He recovered to strike out Guillen and Cameron but McLemore singled and took second when Wakefield just simply didn't care. Rodriguez grounded out to end the inning.

Former Red Sox prospect Frankie Rodriguez replaced Freddy Garcia after 93 pitches and 2 runs allowed. O'Leary popped up but Stanley singled and took second on a wild pitch. Daubach walked but Varitek popped up and Nixon flied out to end the threat. Olerud greeted Wakefield with a solo blast to lead off the bottom of the 6th. Wakefield recovered to strike out Mabry and get Buhner to ground out. Nomar booted a ball that allowed Bell to reach but Wilson flied out to end it. The score was 9-2 Seattle at this point.

Offerman was finally retired via fly out to lead off the 7th but Valentin pounded a home run just to tick off the Mariner fans. Everett grounded out and Nomar struck out to end the top half. Wakefield returned for the bottom of the 7th to retire Guillen on a ground out. Cameron struck out but McLemore singled. Rodriguez popped up as we headed to the 8th.

Arthur Rhodes replaced  Rodriguez for the top of the 8th and struck out O'Leary and Stanley. Out to pinch hit came 41 year old Gary Gaetti but he struck out to end the inning. Manny Alexander replaced Valentin for the bottom of the frame and Olerud led off with a ground out. Mabry walked but Buhner hit into a double play to end the inning.

Kazuhiro Sasaki replaced Rhodes for the 9th as Charles Gipson took over for Buhner in right. Varitek popped up but Nixon singled. Offerman grounded out that moved Nixon to second and Alexander struck out to end the game. It was a nightmare but thankfully it was over. Jeff Fassero takes on former Sox pitcher Aaron Sele in the rubber game tomorrow night.

Jackass of the Night is easy, Ramon Martinez gave up 7 runs in 1 1/3 innings, terrible.

                                                           He's not Pedro, he's Jackass

The Good:

Jose Offerman was 1 for 3 with 2 walks. John Valentin was 1 for 3 with a home run. Brian Daubach hit 2 solo homers and walked. Jason Varitek was 2 for 4. Tim Wakefield had mop up duty but did the best he could, only surrendering 1 run in 4 innings.

The Bad:

Manny Alexander pinch hit for Valentin and struck out. Nomar Garciaparra was 0 for 4 with a strikeout and an error. Troy O'Leary was 0 for 4 with a strikeout. Gary Gaetti pinch hit for Daubach and struck out.

The Ugly:

Carl Everett, Mike Stanley and Trot Nixon were all just 1 for 4. John Wasdin pitched 2 2/3 innings of long relief and gave up an earned run.


Final Thoughts:

That sucked. Ramon needs to do better for sure. Hopefully the Sox can win tomorrow.