Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Good baseball teams find ways to win games in all types of fashion over the course of a season. While no one should consider a team seven games under .500 a good team, the Seattle Mariners are playing some very good baseball in July and are now 10-5 for the month after picking up one of those unconventional wins that good teams are known for on Saturday, beating the Houston Astros 4-2 at Minute Maid Park.
Erik Bedard and the Astro’s bullpen combined to throw a one-hitter against the Mariners, but somehow managed to give up four runs and lose their MLB-leading sixty-third game of the year on Saturday.
A two-run double by Michael Saunders in the seventh inning was the first and only base hit the M’s recorded in the game, but it broke a 2-2 and propelled Seattle to a season-high fifth straight win. How did the Mariners get their first two runs? Bedard, who took a no-hitter into the sixth, issued back-to-back walks after getting an out to start the inning. A pass ball advanced the runners and was followed by a Nick Franklin sacrifice fly to score one, and then another pass ball allowed Brad Miller to score, tying the game at two.
Bedard, a former Mariner, became the eighth pitcher since 1920 to take a loss while not giving up a hit in six or more innings of work.
For the M’s, it was their first game in over a month that the team failed to hit a home run, snapping the 23-game streak, they have a more important streak to worry about now. Felix Hernandez will get the call Sunday as Seattle tries for their second consecutive sweep.
Tyler is a Seattle Mariners writer for Rantsports. Follow him on Twitter @Teesee5, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.
