One Word:  Brilliant

July 2, 2003

So this rather brilliant event began with Ichiro singling, Randy Winn walking and Bret Boone ripping a big nasty double to score the first RBI of the game, and then an out later and Mike Cameron singled which scored Randy and moved Bret to third and then Mike went to second on a passed ball and an out later, Willie Bloomquist walked, but we settle for the 2 runs and head to the bottom half where despite 2 walks, Joel Pineiro didn't let the Athletics score.

So second inning and Dan Wilson led off with a single and then Ichiro singled and then an out later and Bret singled which scored Dan and we end up leading 3-0 as we head to the bottom half where Joel retires the side in order.

So third inning, and with 2 outs, Jeff Cirillo singled and then Dan singled but we surprisingly enough don't score anybody and neither does Oakland as they waste a 2 out walk to Scott Hatteberg, so moving right along to the fourth, we sit down in order and then Oakland wastes Ramon Hernandez's 1-out double.

So top of the fifth and I apologize for hurrying through these past couple reviews a bit but it's been a hectic week and I didn't really get a chance to take notes during the games so I'm kind of winging it here and with 2 outs, Willie Bloomquist doubled, and then Cirillo walked and then Dan singled which scored Bloomie and moved Cirillo to second and then Ichiro was hit by a pitch but unfortunately nobody charged the mound and then John Halama relieved Ted Lilly and walked Randy Winn which forced in a run and we lead it 5-0 when all is said and done and I can't help but wonder if Halama bitches and whines and throws hissy fits that Oakland won't let him start either since that was his big complaint here never mind that he couldn't WIN when he started and then Joel retires the side 1-2-3.

So sixth inning and Edgar ripped a big nasty double to lead things off and then Cammie grounded him to third and then Greg Colbrunn singled which scored him and it's still 6-0 as the A's can't manage more than a 1-out single from Miguel Tejada against the dealing Joel Pineiro.

So moving right along to the seventh, EVERYBODY's down in order, so let's just keep going to the eighth, where Randy led off with a double and then Bret grounded him over to third and then Edgar "I'm Goin Yard!" Martinez WENT YARD and it's 8-0 Seattle and then Mike singled and then Colbrunn hit a ground rule double and then some guy named Neu relieved Halama and Willie grounded out which scored Mike and it's 9-0 Seattle as Oakland wastes a a lead off single from Ellis.

So ninth inning and Dan led off with a single and then Ichiro grounded him to second and then Randy ripped a big nasty double which scored Dan and then Bret walked and then Edgar reached on an infield single of all things and then Randy scored and everybody moved up a base on an error and then Mike ripped a big nasty double which scored Edgar and Bret and when the dust settles, it's 13-0 Mariners and that's what it would stay even though Willie walked an out later, as Julio Mateo relieved Joel and with 1 out, hit Hernandez with a pitch but recovered nicely to get the next 2 outs no problem.

A little excerpt from sportswriter Bob Finnigan's article...

In the ninth inning, reliever Julio Mateo drilled Oakland catcher Ramon Hernandez, possible or even probable payback for A's starter Ted Lilly hitting Ichiro on the right calf innings, and what seemed hours, earlier.  Seattle's side of the pitch, which Mateo bounced off the batter's butt, was so angelic, so patent it sounded rehearsed.

"It was cold, it was just a ball that got in there," Mariners manager Bob Melvin said deadpan.

And that it hit their catcher ... coincidence? "Oh, yeah," Melvin said.

Mateo had the same blank look when he said, "It was a two-seamer that got away, ran in on him."