Bullpen, Defense Costs Sox (4/6/00)

Yesterday the starting pitching cost the Sox while today it was the bullpen and a badly timed error. Jeff Fassero was game but in the end the Seattle Mariners pounced on shoddy relief pitching to take the opening series in Safeco Field.

Aaron Sele took the mound in the top of the first and struck out Jose Offerman in short order. Trot Nixon popped up but Carl Everett worked a walk. Nomar Garciaparra singled but Troy O'Leary lined out to end the threat. Jeff Fassero took the hill and walked leadoff hitter Mark McLemore. McLemore was gunned down trying to steal as Stan Javier grounded out. Alex Rodriguez walked but John Olerud grounded out to first to end the inning.

Mike Stanley walked to lead off the second but Brian Daubach flied out and Jason Varitek hit into a double play. Jay Buhner led off the bottom of the second with a single but Mike Cameron hit into a double play. David Bell grounded out to end the inning.

The Sox struck first in the top of the third. Manny Alexander grounded out as Offerman struck out again. Trot Nixon came to the plate and belted his first home run of the year. Everett singled but Nomar struck out to end the rally. Fassero got into a jam in the bottom of the 3rd. Dan Wilson flied out to begin the bottom half of the third and Carlos Guillen grounded out. McLemore walked and stole second but Javier and Rodriguez walked to load the basis. Fassero got out of trouble when Olerud flied out.

O'Leary grounded out to lead off the 4th and Stanley flied out. Daubach singled but Varitek flied out. Fassero began the bottom of the 4th by getting Olerud to ground out. Cameron flied out but Bell singled. Wilson grounded out to end the inning.

Sele made quick work of the Sox in the top of the 5th. Alexander flied out but Offerman walked only to be erased when Nixon banged into a double play. The Mariners struck in the bottom of the 5th. Guillen struck out and McLemore struck out. Javier walked and scored when Rodriguez doubled him home. Olerud grounded out to end the inning.

The Sox regained the lead in the top of 6th. Everett singled and was moved all the way to 3rd on groundouts from Garciaparra and O'Leary. Stanley walked and Daubach scored Everett by poking a single to right field. Varitek flied out but the Sox led 2-1. The parade of walks spelled doom for Fassero as he was lifted for Bryce Florie after 98 pitches for the bottom of the 6th. He struck out Buhner, grounded out Cameron and got Bell to pop up to end the inning.

Jose Mesa replaced Sele for the top of the 7th. He got Alexander to strike out and Offerman to fly out. Nixon struck out to end the frame. The Mariners took control in the bottom of the 7th. Wilson walked but Florie struck out Guillen. McLemore walked and Javier singled. The play of the game came when Jose Offerman booted a tailor made double play that allowed Wilson to score. Quick triggered Jimy Williams pulled Florie for lefty Rheal Cormier. Olerud grounded out to 1st that scored McLemore and gave the Mariners a 3-2 lead. Buhner popped up to end the threat.

The Sox had a big chance in the 8th. Charles Gipson replaced Mesa but gave up back to back singles to Everett and Nomar. O'Leary failed to bunt and instead flied out to left. Mike Stanley flied out before Williams lifted Daubach in favor of Gary Gaetti....who struck out like yesterday. The Mariners put the game away in the bottom of the frame as Cameron and Bell bashed back to back home runs off Cormier. Wilson grounded out and Guillen flied out. McLemore singled but was thrown out trying to steal for the second time in the game.

The Sox had their last chance in the 9th down 5-2 against Kaz Sasaki. Nobody could make contact as Varitek, pinch hitter Scott Hatteberg and Offerman struck out (3rd time today) to end the game. A tough loss but the Sox go back to work tomorrow against Anaheim. Pete Schourek makes his season debut against Jason Dickson.

Jackass of the Night is Jose Offerman. He was 0 for 4 and his error led to the Mariners taking the lead.

The Good:

Carl Everett was 3 for 3 with a walk and a run scored. Nomar Garciaparra was 2 for 4. Brian Daubach was 2 for 3 with an rbi.

The Bad:

Troy O'Leary was 0 for 4. Gary Gaetti pinch hit for Daubach and struck out. Jason Varitek was 0 for 4 with a strikeout. Manny Alexander was 0 for 3. Scott Hatteberg pinch hit for Alexander and struck out. Rheal Cormier gave up back to back home runs to ice the game in the 8th inning.

The Ugly:

Trot Nixon was just 1 for 4 but the one hit was a solo home run. Mike Stanley was 0 for 2 but with 2 walks. Jeff Fassero lasted only 5 innings due to 6 walks and 3 hits but only allowed 1 run. Bryce Florie took the loss in 1 1/3 inning but Offerman's error was the primary cause.