Mariners Are 2016 Millennium Champs!

 

The 2016 World Series is a rematch of the 2014 and 2011 World Series.  Seattle won 2014 in 5 games and 2011 in 6 games.  Oakland also faced Seattle in the 2013 playoffs when they got swept by Seattle in the opening round. 

 

 

Game 1:  Jake Arrieta vs. Justin Verlander

Oakland gets on the board first in the second with a run but the Mariners answer with 5 runs off Arrieta.  The A’s come back with 3 the following inning to get it within 1.  Andrew Triggs relieves Arrieta in the 3^rd inning and lets the wheels fall off allowing 7 runs with 4 of them earned.  The Mariners add a couple of runs to stretch the lead to 10 in the 6^th inning.  Seattle out hits Oakland 13-5 and wins 14-6.  Nelson Cruz collects 3 RBI while Russell Martin collects 4 RBI in a losing effort.

 

Game 2:  Carlos Carrasco vs. Jon Lester

Oakland gets on the board first again with a Matt Kemp solo HR in the 4^th.  Elvis Andrus, Evan Longoria and Nelson Cruz each double of Carrasco in the 6^th for the 2-1 advantage.  Alex Colome blows the save in the 9^th to send the game to extras.  Colome then allows a Jonathon Schoop single in the 10^th who advances on a ground out.  Nate Jones can’t get out of the jam and allows a Eddie Rosario single to give the A’s the lead.  S. Oh pitches an uneventful 10^th as the A’s tie with a 3-2 extra inning victory.  Jon Lester strikes out 10 in 8 innings and Carrasco allows 4 base runners in 7 innings.

 

Game 3: Felix Hernandez vs. Rick Porcello

Porcello coasts through the first 8 innings with a 4 run lead before giving up a Evan Longoria HR to lead off the 9^th.  Oh comes on a pitches a perfect 9^th as Oakland wins 4-1 and takes the series lead at home. 

 

Game 4: Justin Verlander vs. Jose Quintana

The Mariners put 3 across in the first inning on three hits.  David Ross adds a HR in the 6^th inning off Triggs.  Verlander strikes out 9 and allows 3 hits in 8 shutout innings before being lifted for a pinch hitter.  Dan Otero strands a couple of runners and preserves the shutout as Seattle wins 5-0 and ties the series.  Ryan Braun collects 3 hits and 2 RBI.

 

Game 5: Jon Lester vs. Jake Arrieta

Nelson Cruz hits a 2 run blast in the 5^th to start the scoring.  Kyle Seager answers for Oakland with a solo shot to keep it close.  The Mariners get it back in the 6^th inning and Oakland puts enough pressure on Lester to get him pulled in the 6^th but not before he strikes out 10.  Oakland adds a run in the 7^th off Ryan Buchter by winning the managerial matchup swaps.  The Mariners come back with a run the following inning and Oakland answers again to keep it within 1.  The A’s can’t match its magical comeback in game 2 as Alex Colome, the 6^th Mariner pitcher, earns the save on the 4-3 victory.

 

Game 6: Carlos Carrasco vs. Matt Moore

Kyle Seager and Kendrys Morales go yard for Oakland as they jump to a 3-1 lead off Matt Moore.  Otero comes in and allows 3 more runs as Oakland cruises to a 8-2 victory.  Six A’s collect RBIs.  Carrasco strikes out 8 in 7 innings.

 

Game  7: Rick Porcello vs. Justin Verlander

Kyle Seager launches a HR in the first inning.  The Mariners answer with 3 runs in the first inning to take the lead and put another run across in the second inning.  Seager goes yard again in the 4^th inning.  His 4^th of the series.   Nelson Cruz hits a 2 run HR in the 5^th inning for a 6-2 lead.  Porcello hands the ball to Ryan Madson and pitches 2 scoreless innings.  Verlander leaves after 6 innings and striking out 8.  Five Mariner relievers keep the A’s off the board over the final 3 innings as the Mariners maintain the 6-2 edge and earn the series victory at home.