Mariners Champs Again!!

 



Congratulations to the Seattle Mariners for winning the 2014 Millennium World Series!  Here is a recap of the games:

Game 1:
Jake Arrieta took a 1-0 lead into the 9th inning and was gunning for the opening game shutout.  Carl Crawford singled and stole second.  With one out, Albert Pujols cleared the fences and K-Rod pitched a scoreless 9th to hand Arrieta his first playoff loss as the Mariners steal the first game in Oakland 2-1.

Game 2:
Brandon Phillips launched a 2 run blast off Collin McHugh in the 2nd inning to give the Mariners the lead.  They added two more runs in the 6th with RBI’s by Ryan Braun and Evan Longoria.  Mike Morse put the A’s on the board with a solo shot in the 7th and Austin Jackson added another one in the 8th to make it close.  Darren O’Day shut the A’s down in order in the 9th to preserve the 4-2 Mariner victory.

Game 3:
Mariners started the scoring with 2 runs in the bottom of the 3rd.  Oakland answered with 2 in the top of the 4th.  Brandon Belt doubled in Jose Reyes in the 6th to give the M’s a 3-2 lead.  Jon Lester stayed in the game into the 9th inning.  Daniel Norris hits a split 1 double 2-20 out in the top of the 9th inning.  He scores on a Kyle Seager single to tie it.   The tie game goes into the 14th inning.  The A’s 8th pitcher, Jared Hughes beans Peter Bourjos with one out who advances to 3rd on a Brandon Phillips Single.  Yadier Molina hits a high fly in to the middle of the OF.  Bourjos has 1-9 split chance of being safe on the sac fly and draws a 1 to win it.  4-3 Mariners with the walk-off.

Game 4:
Jose Quintana and Jeff Samardzjia bring their best efforts to game 4.  Through 8 innings, the only hit of the game was a Carl Crawford double in the 6th inning.  Kyle Seager led off the 9th with his 3rd walk of the game.  After Michael Cuddyer struck out, Seager advanced to second on a wild pitch.  A ground out by Al Avila advanced Seager to third.  The next pitch to Jonathan Schoop got away from Yadier Molina to give the A’s the first run of the game.  Schoop promptly flew out to end the inning.  After leaving their starters in too long in games 1 and 2, Quintana is pulled for the closer, Jake McGee.  It is the right move as McGee pitches a perfect 9th as the A’s get their first victory of the series despite not getting a hit with a 1-0 win. 

Game 5:
Jake Arrieta and Felix Hernandez try to match the marvelous pitching performances in game 4.  The game is scoreless until the 7th when Schoop scores on a passed ball.  Arrieta reaches his pitch limit and is lifted for Blaine Hardy.  After a Carl Crawford hit and steals second, Hardy gets Ryan Braun to fly out.  Adam Rosales comes in to pinch hit.  Oakland counters by bringing in Roman Mendez.  Rosales is sent back to the bench for a different PH, Kirk Nieuwenhuis.  Mendez gives a free pass to Nieuwenhuis to face Albert Pujols.  Pujols doesn’t take kindly to the move and jacks a 3 run shot to RF for a 3-1 lead.  Three Seattle relievers keep the A’s off the board as the Mariners overcome 3 errors and a passed ball to earn the 3-1 victory and win their 5th championship in franchise history.