Mariners World Series Champions!

The Seattle Mariners won the 2008 Millennium World Series by defeating the Anaheim Angels 4 games to 2.  A recap of the series:  

Game 1:  Roy Oswalt vs Armando Galarraga

The game 1 matchup between the redhot Oswalt vs the inconsistent Galarraga.  Galarraga's strength is right handed hitters which Seattle has alot of but which Galarraga would show up?  The one who shut down the Mariners in the regular season or the pitcher who gave up seven runs in the first inning in a previous playoff start.  Unfortunately for the home fans, the wilder Galarraga showed up.  The Mariners put up four in the first with two hits and two hit batters and another run in the second inning against Galarraga.  Galarraga settled down some but allowed seven runs with nine hits over six innings. 

With 2 out in the 1st inning, Blaise decided to put Alex Rodriguez on to load the bases.  After watching two breaking balls miss, Luis Gonzalez hit a Galarraga fastball into the right-centerfield seats for a grand slam.  Carlos Quentin hit a PH HR and Brandon Phillips also went deep for the Mariners as they easily win game 1 as Roy Oswalt improves to 4-0 in the playoffs:  Seattle wins 8-2

Game 2:  Mike Mussina vs John Lannan

With Mussina retiring after the season, he wanted to leave it all on the field and give it everything.  He received a lot of run support early as the Mariners put up one in the second, three in the third and four in the fourth for an early 8-0 lead.  Lannan lasted three innings and was pulled for Seth McClung after surrending six runs.  McClung didn't fare much better as he allowed four additional runs in three innings of work as he struggled to find the strike zone.  With the early lead, Mussina coasted as he scattered eight hits and lowered his playoff ERA to 0.93

Ryan Braun went 3 for 6 with a double, 2 homeruns and 5 RBI.  Carlos Delgado hit a solo shot in the 7th for Anaheim to avoid the shutout.  Seattle wins 15-1 and outscores Anaheim 23-3. 

Game 3:  Kyle Davies vs Scott Kazmir

Davies pitched an inning in each of the Angel blowout losses in games one and two so he was feeling loose.  Anaheim manufactured a run in the second inning to take its first lead in a game.  Jose Guillen then blasted a three run shot off Kazmir the next inning and Anaheim stretched its lead to 5.   Guillen hit his second homerun of the game in the 5th as Rich Aurilia and Marco Scutaro also left the yard.  Guillen finished 3 for 4 with 2 HR and 4 RBI.  Kazmir was tagged for eight runs in seven innings.  Davies improved to 3-0 in the playoffs by allowings two runs in six innings.  Anaheim wins 8-4

Game 4:  Chris Volstad vs Roy Oswalt

Both starters entered the game undefeated in the post season with ERA's under 2.  They both continued their post season dominance.  Volstad was able to pitch out of several jams with but surrendered a two run homerun by Carlos Quentin in the fifth.  The Angels added one the next inning but couldn't get much going against Oswalt.  Francisco Rodriguez entered the ninth inning clinging to a one run lead with no outs and Nick Markakis on second after a double off Oswalt.  Marco Scutaro's squeeze play in the 9th inning was unsuccessful as K-Rod preserved the victory.  Seattle wins 2-1 as Roy Oswalt improves to 5-0.

Game 5:  Armando Galarraga vs Mike Mussina

Galarraga looks to bounce back from a disappointing game one while Mussina trys to finish his career by clinching a World Series title.  Anaheim manufactured a run in the fourth for the early lead and added to it with a Troy Glaus homerun in the fourth.  Alex Rodriguez answered back for the Mariners with a 2 run blast in the bottom of the fourth to knot it at two.  Mussina started to tire with two outs in the seventh as Mark Teixeira knocked in Glaus with a homerun and Jose Guillen followed with another tater as Anaheim broke the game open with a 5-2 lead.  Galarraga pitched well into the seventh inning allowing only three hits until Blaise went to his bullpen.  Jose Arrendondo allowed a hit without retiring a batter so the closer, Joe Nathan, came in the eighth to shut down the Mariners to pick up his fourth postseason save.  Anaheim wins 5-2.

Game 6:  Felix Hernandez vs John Lannan

Back to Anaheim. The Angels outscored the Mariners 14-8 at Camden Yards of Seattle but didn't fare as well at home. Lannan didn't pitch well at home in game two while Hernandez will get his first work of the Series. Albert Pujols knocked in Jose Reyes with a home run in first for an early lead. Doubles by Mike Cameron and Yadier Molina in the third extended the Seattle lead to 3 but Anaheim answered back in the bottom half by adding two with some cluth hitting by Skip Schumaker and Nick Markakis. The Mariners added a run in the fourth for a 4-2 lead. Felix Hernandez entered a groove after the third inning and struck out eight in his 6 2/3 innings of work. John Lester saw his only action in the Series relieving Hernandez as he was asked to retire some of the tough left-handed Angel hitters. Felix Rodriguez pitched a hitless ninth for his sixth postseason save as the Mariners win the game and Series 4-2.  Seattle wins 4-2.