Statistically, another Mariners pitcher is having a better season than King Felix
Jun 11, 2013, 8:00 AM | Updated: 11:21 am
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma throws against the Houston Astros in the first inning of a baseball game Monday, June 10, 2013, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Hisashi Iwakuma used all his pitches – and his imagination – during his latest splendid start.
For KIRO Radio’s Dave Ross it seems that every time the home team gets a win we want to say that this will be the time things finally turn around for our Seattle Mariners.
“Hisashi Iwakuma has been absolutely dynamite this year for the Mariners and again he was at it last night – seven innings against the Astros, zero earned runs,” Mariners pre and post game host Gary Hill told Seattle’s Morning News.
The Seattle Mariners beat Houston 3-2 on Monday night, sending the Astros to their fifth straight defeat.
“He has a great heartbeat,” Mariners manager Eric Wedge said. “The game never speeds up on him.”
Hill said that King Felix is still the King. “But Iwakuma, statistically anyway, has had a better season than Felix Hernandez – if you can believe it. It’s been kind of under the radar but Iwakuma has been one of the best in baseball this year.”
Iwakuma (7-1) gave up four hits, struck out eight and walked one while reducing his ERA to 1.79, second-lowest in the majors behind Boston right-hander Clay Buchholz (1.71).
Raul Ibanez hit his team-high 12th home run and Michael Morse had an RBI double for Seattle.
The critical moment came in the seventh. With the Mariners up 2-1, Carlos Pena led off with a double and Chris Carter walked. Jimmy Paredes struck out and Pena reached third on a wild pitch before Iwakuma induced Matt Dominguez to ground into an inning-ending double play.
“I just try to slow the game down, pitching with composure, and imagine that I would get a double play in that situation,” Iwakuma said through a translator. “That was a two-seam, which went well for us.”
Iwakuma has been particularly stingy at home. He leads the AL with a 0.92 ERA in six starts at Safeco Field, striking out 46 and walking three. In 24 career appearances there, including 16 starts, he is 9-3 with a 1.89 ERA.
“I feel very comfortable here and very used to the mound here,” Iwakuma said. “That helps me out to have that advantage.”
Mariners shortstop Brendan Ryan said it’s a pleasure playing behind Iwakuma.
“He has that four-seamer that like goes downhill then flattens out, with the split off that,” he said. “He has his change, slider. He uses his big curveball a lot to get ahead. He’s got a complete repertoire and uses it intelligently. This is what we’ve come to expect out of him now. It’s pretty awesome.”
Carter Capps and Charlie Furbush worked the eighth. Tom Wilhelmsen got three outs for his 16th save in 19 opportunities.
Brandon Barnes attempted a sacrifice bunt. Iwakuma jumped on it quickly but his throw to second was dropped by Ryan for an error and Gonzalez raced to third.
Jose Altuve then hit a sacrifice fly to left.
That unearned run ended Iwakuma’s scoreless streak at 23 2-3 innings, eighth-longest in franchise history. He has not allowed an earned run since the second inning on May 26 against Texas.
So it is enough to start thinking things are finally turning around for our M’s? Is a 3-2 win against the Astros enough to hang your hat on? Hill said that a win is a win after all. “They’ve had trouble with the Astros this year, it was good to see it develop into something.”
Especially after a tough weekend against the Yankees.
An Associated Press report with contributions from MyNorthwest.com’s Alyssa Kleven
