The Bullpen Is Trying To Give Me High Blood Pressure

The Bullpen Is Trying To Give Me High Blood Pressure

July 8, 2003

So this game began magnificently as Joel Pineiro retired the side in order and then Ichi "I Shall Lead Off With A Homerun" ro LEAD OFF WITH A HOMERUN and I always crack up when he hits one out because I never expect it and then 2 outs later, Edgar walked but we settle for the 1 run and head to the second leading 1-0 where Joel gave up a lead off double to Jeff Conine and then walked Jay Gibbons and just as I am about to get all fussy about it, he worked himself right out of it, retiring the next three batters with help from Randy Winn who made an excellent catch of the fly ball B.J. Surhoff hit, and I was mightily impressed.

So bottom of the second, and Mike Cameron led off with a single and then Mark McLemore singled and then Jeff Cirillo sacrificed them both over and then Dan Wilson ripped a big nasty double to score them both and it's 3-0 Seattle and then an out later and Randy Winn walked and then Bret reached on an infield single and then Edgar ALMOST hit a grand slam and I ALMOST peed my pants, but neither actually happened, unfortunately on the first one, fortunately on the second.

So third inning and Brook Fordyce led off with a single and I swore and then Brian Roberts walked and I swore again and then Luis Matos grounded them both over and I swore some more and then Melvin Mora grounded out which scored Fordyce and I bet you can guess what I did and then Conine walked before Gibbons FINALLY made an out to end this stupid inning and it's 3-1 Seattle as we head to the bottom half where John Olerud singled and an out later and Mac singled but we can't get anything going and we all know what I had to say about it.

Fourth inning and everyone's down in order, including us even though Bret Boone walked with 2 outs because he then got caught stealing, so off we go to the fifth inning where Baltimore wastes a 2 out single from Luis Matos and then we waste Edgar's lead off single that was followed by John Olerud's walk which really, really sucked.

So sixth inning, and Conine led off with a single which was fortunately followed by a double play, and then Tony Batista walked and then Surhoff singled but Deivi Cruz flew out to end the inning which made me very, very happy and then with 2 outs, SO WHAT as Ichiro singled and stole second and then Randy Winn reached on an infield single and then Rick Bauer came in to pitch for Jason Johnson and Bret TRIPLED which scored them both and then Edgar singled which scored Bret and it's 6-1 Seattle as we head to the seventh inning and I can't even tell you how happy this made me.

So seventh inning and Rafael Soriano came in to pitch for Joel and he retired the side in order and meanwhile, there's old David Segui in the dugout and how sad that Brady Anderson isn't there anymore and actually, I'm still very weirded out that Cal Ripken Jr. is gone as I don't adjust to change well but it's still not nearly as weird for me as the Mariners are without Jay Buhner and anyway, with 1 out, Mac singled, and an out after that, Dan singled but we don't score them which is really unfortunate as we head off to the eighth where our bullpen tried to KILL ME by allowing the Orioles to score FOUR RUNS and I could replay it all for you but I'm just now calming down about it so I really don't think I ought to in the interest of my health.

Bottom of the eighth, 6-5 Seattle, and Hector Carrasco comes in to pitch for Bauer which was good as Bauer's hair was really annoying me and Randy reached on a bunt single which was unfortunately followed by a double play and then Edgar singled and B.J. Ryan came in to pitch for Carrasco and John Olerud walked and Willie Bloomquist came out to run for Gar and I don't know why he wasn't sent out there sooner BOB MELVIN but whatever and then the Orioles made another pitching change and we don't score anybody and head to the ninth inning where Shiggy got two quick outs before giving up an infield single to Gibbons but then Batista flew out to end it and everyone in Seattle breathed a huge sigh of relief as we win it 6-5.