Seattle Mariners edge past Cleveland Indians 3-2 as Ichiro Suzuki returns to form – MLB Update
The Seattle Mariners edged past the Cleveland Indians 3-2 helped by a Franklin Gutierrez sacrifice fly in the ultimate inning at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio on Monday, August 22.
Ichiro Suzuki finally showed form at the plate as he connected three times in five at-bats including a home-run in the very first inning. Suzuki has been in pretty ordinary form this season and this can be gauged from the fact that this was just his third
home-run of the season. Ichiro’s average, which had been on the lower side throughout the season, showed a slight improvement as it increased to .269. The Mariners would want Suzuki to replicate this form in their remaining encounters as they prepare a strategy
for their next campaign.
The Indians were not as impressive in the field as the Mariners and their lacklustre form was highlighted in the second inning when a throwing error by catcher Lou Marson allowed Casper Wells to add the second run for the Mariners and impose a two-run lead
on the shaky Indians.
The Indians, however, made a strong reply at the bottom of the second inning and went on to eradicate the lead and level the score at 2-2. Marson made up for his error in the field and his single to the centre allowed Carlos Santana to add the first run
for the Indians before Jack Hannahan added the second run to complete the scoring.
It turned out to be a pitcher’s game thereon as neither side allowed a scoring opportunity before Gutierrez skied the ball to the centre allowing Miguel Olivo to complete the third run for the Mariners and take them to a one-run inevitable lead.
Jason Vargas was once again impressive at the mound for the Mariners as he allowed just two runs in his seven innings to bring his earned-run average for the season to 4.18. Chance Ruffin came out as reliever in the eighth inning and pitched a perfect inning
to win his first game of the season. Brandon League was spot on as closer and did not allow the Indians to add any run in the last inning to save his 31st game this season.
The Mariners lead the four-game series 1-0.
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