The Mariners appear to be slowly coming around to this whole "offensive" part of baseball. They just abused the Rangers to the tune of 31 runs in two games about a week and a half ago and they are just above league average in runs scored. The boys in dark cyan still have some work to do, though—they are among the league worst in most other offensive categories, including a team OPS+ of 93. As they continue to work out the kinks, the Mariners have figured out a way to keep afloat while scoring only one run: don't allow any hits.
Kevin Millwood was executing this plan to perfection (well, not really perfection—he walked Juan Rivera in the fifth) when he pulled up lame in the sixth inning. He tweaked his right groin on his penultimate pitch to Tony Gwynn, Jr., and struck him out on the next one. Millwood tried to come out for the seventh but quickly realized he couldn't push off the rubber. "It would have been stupid to stay out there," said Millwood. The Seattle bullpen took care of the rest, though. Charlie Furbush, Stephen Pryor, Lucas Luetge, Brandon League and Tom Wilhelmsen all chipped in to record the remaining nine outs. In all, the Mariners used six pitchers to finish the game, tying the Astros—who used six to no-hit the Yankees in 2003— for the "record" for most pitchers used in a no-hitter.
It was the second time this year the citizens of Seattle were witness to a dominating performance (though not nearly as many pitchers). Way back in April, Phillip Humber pitched a perfect game against these same Mariners at Safeco. What's more, the same home plate umpire, Brian Runge, called both games.
Don't look know, but the Mariners are pushing their way up the standings, scoring runs in bunches, or like last night with just the one, as they play the wrong western division teams. Hooray interleague!
Image via Getty
Mariners no-hit the Dodgers with six different pitchers [Seattle Times]
Kevin Millwood: 'It would have been stupid to stay out there' [CBS]