Bob Sherwin

"It was billed as a showcase game for baseball's burgeoning international influence as two of the finest players to come out of Japan, Boston Red Sox pitcher Hideo Nomo and Mariner right fielder Ichiro, faced each other for the first time in this country's big leagues last night. However, a player born in New York, raised in Puerto Rico and settled in Seattle, 38-year-old Edgar Martinez, proved the game's global reach as he showed once again that he is an international man of misery for every major-league pitcher. Martinez upstaged the Japanese duel by driving in the Mariners' first three runs in a 5-1 victory over the Red Sox before 40,170 at Safeco Field." -Bob Sherwin, sportswriter

"They're just playing like it's a pickup game. Mark McLemore picks up for David Bell. Stan Javier picks up for Al Martin. Tom Lampkin picks up for Dan Wilson. And the entire bullpen picks up anything that's left. Where there's a hole, someone fills it. Where there's a need, someone provides it. Where there's a question, someone answers. Just one guy picking up for another. The league statistics bear it out. The Mariners are hitting .277 with runners in scoring position, second best in the league. The Mariner pinch-hitters are 11 for 18 (.611) with two home runs and 10 RBI. Both the average and the RBI are tops in the majors. The bullpen has a 2.44 ERA, second best in the league. The defense has the best fielding percentage in the majors at .987. Everyone is contributing." -Bob Sherwin, sportswriter, on why the Mariners are successful

"By unofficial count, the Mariners have scored 116 of their 220 runs this season with two outs." -Bob Sherwin, sportswriter

"Ichiro continues to be the league's pacesetter for hits (66), singles (50), infield hits (15), runs (35), average against right-handers (.410) and average with runners in scoring position (.576). He also is third in the league in hitting at .365." -Bob Sherwin

"Abbott, who sometimes takes an inning or two before he dials in, had some trouble in the third with a couple walks and a double steal, putting runners on second and third with two outs. Pitching coach Bryan Price paid a visit while Ryan Franklin began throwing in the bullpen. Abbott had wanted to work longer into the game because he knew the relievers needed some rest. Suddenly, it clicked. He struck out Paul Konerko looking, ending the inning. He then struck out the side in the fourth. He would retire 11 batters in a row, seven on strikeouts. The Sox never could make it big. They tried in the seventh when Abbott issued a one-out walk to Herbert Perry. Manager Lou Piniella ushered in Norm Charlton. He induced Singleton to hit into a forceout, then Sandy Alomar drilled a line drive past Charlton's left ear. His glove deflected it. He picked it up and threw him out." -Bob Sherwin

"Their victory gave the Mariners a 56-19 record. Only two teams in history have had better records after 75 games and both of them - the 1912 New York Giants (58-17) and the 1902 Pittsburgh Pirates (57-18) - played when Safeco Field was a saw mill. Now another kind of lumber yard has emerged from the mud flats. It is, indeed, a Mariner Nation and everyone else is along for the ride." -Bob Sherwin, sportswriter