Michael Pineda’s strike-outs help Seattle Mariners beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 – MLB Recap
The American League’s Seattle Mariners’ rookie pitcher, Michael Pineda, dazzled on Tuesday night, tossing seven shutout innings, as the club defeated league rivals the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 at Safeco Field in Washington.
The rookie pitcher surprised his team-mates, as he got seven strikeouts. The 22-year-old right-hander entertained the spectators not only with his 99mph fastballs, but also with sinkers, nasty off-speed pitches and biting sliders that did not give the opposition
any chance to settle down.
The Jays remained under pressure during Pineda’s seven innings spell in which he allowed just two runs, two walks and one earned run. Pineda, making his second start of the Major League Baseball season, earned his first win with a 2.70 earned run average.
Pineda retired the first eight batters he faced and went for just three hits before allowing a RBI double to Edwin Encarnacion in the eighth inning. Yunel Escobar walked and then Miguel Olivo and Corey Patterson finished Pineda’s day with a sharp single.
However, Pineda emerged as a new hero for the Mariners’ spectators.
Pineda, who left behind the Mariners’ veteran ball thrower, Felix Hernandez, with his exhibition, provoked expectations from the fans. Hernandez was touched for 7 earned runs and 12 hits last night by the Blue Jays.
Michael, who received a standing ovation, has full support from the reliever Chris Ray, who tossed just two pitches and did not allow a single hit. The closer Brandon League threw for an inning and achieved his second save of the season in a splendid manner.
The Mariners’ centre-fielder Ryan Langerhans led off the game in third inning, hammering a huge three-run grand slam to right field off Toronto starter Ricky Romero. In the start of the third inning, the Mariners hitter Brandon Ryan touched a sharp pitch
for a single, as Langerhans achieved a team-leading third homer of the season. The hit provided some relief to Ryan, as he had three hits in his first 18 at-bats.
However, the 26-year-old left-hand pitcher did not lose his momentum and followed with five scoreless innings. Romero struck back, as he retired 14 Mariners and sent four batters out of the plate with impressive strike-out pitches. However, he suffered his
first loss of the season and the pitcher seemed full of confidence for the next game.
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