"What is it about Jay Buhner? He played a few games for the Tacoma Rainiers on a rehab assignment last month and, bingo, the Rainiers clinched a playoff berth. Then after playing in just his third game with the Mariners [tonight], what happens? The Mariners clinched a playoff berth. It seems the Mariners' No. 19 is the magic number and last night he brought the magic with him." -Bob Sherwin, sportswriter

So my super cute nephew Dylan is 4 years old today but we had his party yesterday and he was so funny, he called and woke me up that morning he was so excited even though his party wasn't until 2 and I hear this little voice go "Hi Auntie Yoda! You need to get up here soon!" and then he starts giving me all his different "numbers" I can reach him at if I need to call him and he's all "my cellular number is 124 and Mommy's cellular number is 125 and Daddy's cellular number is 126 and Casey doesn't have a cellular number because he's just a baby" AND HOW ADORABLE IS THAT and anyway, Jay is getting his first start in leftfield and I am very excited and so is the crowd who gives him a big ovation as he heads out there.

So anyway, the batboy leads things off for Tampa Bay and NO WAIT that is Jason Tyner, and he reaches on an infield single and there's the real batboy who struck out and NO WAIT that is Brent Abernathy who looks all of about 9 years old and then Randy Winn doubled which scored Tyner and we head to the bottom half trailing 1-0 but I have to mention that Jay made a spectacular run at a foul ball and anyway, Ichiro singled and then Stan Javier reached on an infield single and then Bret Boone hit into a fielder's choice and with runners at the corners, Mike Cameron hit a sac fly to tie the game and then Jay had a HUGE ovation for his first at-bat of the year at Safeco, and some time later he was finally able to step into the batter's box, no doubt overcome with emotion, as was I, and he ended up flying out which I of course thought was a homerun and we head to the second inning, 1-all.

"Buhner finished the first inning with a fly out to center but not before the entire stadium stood up for nearly a minute with a loud ovation before his at-bat." -Bob Sherwin

"If there's anybody here who deserves that, it's Jay. After all he's been through, it's just great to get him back." -Mark McLemore

"It is fitting for him to be part of [this amazing season]. He has been a big part of this franchise for years. I was excited for him and the fans were excited, too. It was good all around." -Lou Piniella

So Ben Grieve reached on a 1 out infield single and then Jared Sandberg singled but then Chris Gomez LINED a shot right at Bret Boone who stomped on second before Grieve could get back and I am all hollering "NIIIICE!" which scared the cat and then we do absolutely nothing in our half, so third inning and with 2 outs, Randy Winn reached on an infield single and what is with all this infield single business lately anyway and then he stole second because Carlos Guillen couldn't catch the throw from Tom Lampkin and the throw looked pretty good, but Tom was credited with the error and Winn got to third but Steve Cox was sat down looking and then we don't do anything but waste Bret's single and Edgar's walk and I have to say it's kinda weird having Bret batting third and Edgar batting cleanup.

So fourth inning and Toby Hall singled to lead things off, but a double play later and that was nicely erased, although Grieve unfortunately singled after that, but Jamie Moyer very quietly caught Sandberg looking to end their half and then Jay Buhner led off with an INFIELD SINGLE of all things, I mean GO JAY and he was running very well but we unfortunately can't get anything going and we head to the fifth inning still tied at 1 and I'm very happy that Jay has gotten his first hit .

So then the trains are all "whistling" loudly in the background, and I have to say I really, truly hate them. That is SO ANNOYING to hear them honking away all the time and if you have the great misfortune of being in rightfield when one cuts loose it scares the daylights out of you it is so loud and obnoxious and you jump and spill your beer and I liked the idea someone proposed awhile back during the All-Star stuff asking the trains to please SHUT UP during the festivities only that offended the train people or something and so they're still making that godawful racket and all I can say is that I am offended by anything blaring away at 9000 decibals during my baseball game so I don't know why they get to continue making their horrifying noise and I am stuck listening to it. So anyway, sixth inning and Winn doubled and an out later and Hall walked and they tried to pull off the double steal but Lampy nailed Hall at second and with 2 outs, Jamie K'd Russ Johnson and we head to the bottom half where we don't do anything except waste Cammie's 2 out infield hit and there we go with all the infield hits again, I mean what is up with that anyway.

So seventh inning and Mac took over in left for Jay and Tampa is down in order as well they should be and then Tommy singles to lead things off for us and David Bell bunted him over to second and then Carlos Guillen walked and then Charles Gipson ran for Tom and Ichiro was safe on an error and with the bases loaded... we can't score anybody and I am forced to say some pretty bad words.

So eighth inning and Arthur Rhodes relieved Jamie and retired the side in order and then Jesus Colome relieved Paul Wilson and retired US in order, so ninth inning and Artie got the first batter and Jeff Nelson came in and got the next two, so our turn and with 2 outs, Carlos Guillen doubled and then Ichiro was intentionally walked and we don't score them and we head into extra innings.

So tenth inning and Grieve obnoxiously leads off with a homerun and I called him some pretty unrepeatable things although besides the yard shot I don't really dislike the guy or anything and as we head to the bottom of the tenth, trailing 2-1, Esteban Yan relieved Colome and with 2 outs, Mike Cameron singled and then stole second and then Mark McLemore singled TO TIE THE GAME!! And we head to the 11th, 2-all, and the batboy NO WAIT that is Brent Abernathy flew out and then Norm Charlton relieved Jeff and finished them off in order, and pay attention here because this was exciting: John Olerud blooped a single that made the two outfielders for Tampa run into each other and they blamed their lack of communication on not being able to hear over the crowd at Safeco Field. They were both okay, and Al Martin ran for Ole and he stole second and then Ichiro reached on an infield single and with runners at the corners, Stan Javier chopped one that bounced into the infield and Al scored and WE WON IT and Lou was hugging everyone after the game which cracked me up and by winning this game, number 99 on the season, we have clinched a spot in the playoffs by guaranteeing ourselves at least the wild card.

"When we win the West, that's when we celebrate, but this is nice." -Jeff Nelson

"We don't think about Alex, Junior and Randy. We have to care about the players we have here and work together." -Carlos Guillen