The game started as a runaway for the Mariners. It ended with Seattle escaping with a wacky, winding, wild win. After leading 10-2, Felix Hernandez went out to work the seventh. He didn’t get an out, so the Mariners turned to a rookie reliever, R.J. Alaniz, and things did not go well after that.

The Angels eventually tied the game at 10 in the eighth inning. Thank the stars for Jay Bruce and poorly set up defensive shifts, the Mariners snapped their six game losing streak. Here’s how it happened…

In the second inning the Mariners took a big lead. First, Omar Narvaez broke his bat and scored Edwin Encarnacion from third. 1-0 Seattle.

After missing a home run by inches Wednesday, Ryon Healy wasn’t messing around on Thursday. A 3-run bomb to center field built the M’s lead to 4-0.

The third inning brought another Mariner run. With two outs, Daniel Vogelbach singled Mitch Haniger to third base. Then, Tim Beckham brought Haniger home. 5-0 M’s.

You knew the Angels wouldn’t go without ANY runs, after all they love scoring on poor Felix. They scored two in the third, the first on an RBI Double from Andrelton Simmons. 5-1 Seattle.

Then Albert Pujols brought Simmons home with an RBI single. 5-2 M’s

In the previous six games at home, Healy went hitless. Well, the road game against LA seemed to be just what the M’s third baseman needed. Healy hit his second HR of the day in the sixth. 7-2 M’s.

Jake Jewell took over for Angels starter Chris Stratton before Healy’s HR in the sixth. In the seventh, he gave up a pair of base runners. Then, Jewell gave up his second homer of the night, this one to Omar Narvaez. 10-2 Seattle.

Hernandez was pitching well for the M’s, but Peter Bourjos just had to ruin it. Oh well. Bourjos doubled home a run, prompting Scott Servais to pull Felix. 10-3 M’s.

The new pitcher for the M’s, rookie R.J. Alaniz, couldn’t get out of the inning before giving up a two-run bomb to Kole Calhoun. 10-5 Seattle in the seventh.

Alaniz continued to struggle. Trout reached for the first time with a blooper. Then, Simmons made the young pitcher pay. 10-6 Seattle, still in the seventh.

Servais finally pulled Alaniz after he gave up another RBI double, this one to Albert Pujols. 10-7 M’s, you guessed it, still in the seventh.

Even Brandon Brennan couldn’t stop the bleeding. He gave up an RBI single to Tommy La Stella. 10-8 M’s, definitely still in the seventh.

Brennan could not locate his fast ball a number of times in the seventh. He threw a wild pitch which scored the runner, Brian Goodwin, from third. 10-9. Yep, still in the seventh.

David Fletcher wanted to join the party. Boy, did he. His first home run of the season tied the game at 10 in the eighth. You can hear the disgust in Rick Rizzs’ voice at the end of the clip.

After the Mariners squandered a 10-2 lead, they were down to (possibly) their final three outs. Mitch Haniger reached in between the first two outs of the ninth. He stole second during Encarnacion’s at-bat, which led to a walk. Then, Jay Bruce pinch-hit for Dylan Moore. The Angels had the shift on and boy did it back fire. 11-10 Mariners, top nine.

I heard it. I watched it. I still can’t believe the Mariners won this game. Here’s the final call from Rick Rizzs.

Winning Pitcher, (2-0) Anthony Swarzak: 1.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 K, 2 BB

Losing Pitcher, (0-1) Cody Allen: 1.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 K, 2 BB

Save, (3) Roenis Elias: 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 K, 0 BB

Ryon Healy, as mentioned, went hitless in the last six games. Against the Angels, he went 2-for-5, 2 HRs, 5 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB.

Catcher Omar Narvaez was stellar at the plate as well. 3-for-4, HR, 4 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB.

Oh, by the way, Daniel Vogelbach reached base five times. 2-for-2, 2 R, 3 BB.

Notes:

  • Felix Hernandez was solid in the game, but left runners on, who would score which hurt his final line. 6 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 3 K, 1 BB; Hernandez picked up the no decision.
  • Tough night for R.J. Alaniz, who took over for Felix; 0.1 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 1 K, (gave up one HR).
  • Swarzak gets the win, but also blew the save.
  • Chris Stratton started for LA, and went 5 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 4 K, 3 BB (gave up one HR); Jake Jewell took over for Stratton and finished with 1.1 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 2 K, 2 BB, (gave up two HRs).
  • The game somehow ended before the four hour mark; officially listed at 3:59, so ALMOST four hours.

Seattle and LA do it again Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

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