Nightcap: 8/20/07 @ Twins

And the MARINERS are in the WIN COLUMN! If you would have told me that Horacio Ramirez would have given up four runs in the first and Garza would have pitched seven strong innings, I would have believed you. But if you would have told me those roles would be reversed, I would have went into a multi-hour laughing fit. The roles WERE reversed, and Horacio actually pitched 7.1 innings giving up four earned runs on nine hits and walking ZERO! Thats right, NO WALKS! And it was on the ROAD! Now did the Mariners put up the run support that Horacio usually gets? Yes, and in a big way. The Mariners mashed tonight by racking up nine runs on fifteen hits, including four funk blasts. Ibanez (14) and Sexson (20) both hit two run funk blasts off of Matt Garza in the first inning to shoot the M's out to a 4-0 lead before the Twins made it to the dish. In the third inning, the Mariners continued their slugfest at the expense of Garza as Ibanez (15) blasted his second of the game and a major league leading ninth of the month. A few batters later, Kenji Johjima followed suit and parked a 96 mph high fastball in the left field seats. At the end of the night, every M except Jose Vidro had a hit, although he did walk once. Sean Green capped off the night with 1.2 innings of scoreless, hitless, baserunnerless ball as the Mariners won the first game of the series 9-4.

Tomorrow's Starters: Jarrod Washburn (8-10, 4.16) vs. Scott Baker (6-5, 4.53)

Umpires: HP--Bill Miller (Guillen wasn't happy, 1/10 name coolness) 1B--Chris Guccione (7-10 name coolness) 2B--Jeff Kellogg (4-10 name coolness) 3B--Jerry Layne (4-19 name coolness) (Overall crew name coolness = 16/40)

Time: 2:23

Attendance: 31,755 (I didn't think it was nearly that many)

Weather: INDOORS