Not only was it Canada Day with ”The Big Maple” http://www.panthersauthorizedshops.com/authentic-rashaan-gaulden-jersey
, Canadian James Paxton on the mound for the Mariners‘ 1-0 victory over
the Royals, it also was Paxton Bobblehead Day at Safeco Field.
This
bobblehead included a bald eagle on his shoulder, a crazy moment that
actually happened while working out in the outfield before a game this
season in Minnesota. The video went viral.
Paxton
allowed only two hits and struck out 11 in eight innings to lead the
Mariners to their season-best seventh consecutive victory.
”Paxton
enjoyed the moment,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. ”It was
National Pax Day. A holiday in Canada, the bobblehead and the fans were
really into it.”
Paxton (8-2) had plenty of family and friends at the game from his hometown of Ladner, British Columbia.
”It
was cool to pitch on Canada Day and have the bobblehead,” Paxton said.
”It felt good today. The fastball, curveball and cutter all were
working.”
Edwin Diaz struck out the side in
the ninth for his 32nd save. The Mariners are 26-11 in one-run games
this season and 22-0 when Diaz enters the game with a one-run lead.
”As
far as being valuable to our team, he has to be the top of the list,”
Servais said about Diaz. ”He isn’t just getting it done, it’s also the
efficiency of how he’s getting it done. When his timing is right, he’s
really tough to hit.”
Kansas City rookie
Brad Keller (2-3) also was tough to hit. He allowed six hits in eight
innings. The only extra-base hit he allowed was a double by Kyle Seager
in the seventh inning.
”He’s doing
everything you want a starting pitcher to do,” Royals manager Ned Yost
said. ”Complete game. He was fantastic. He’s out there attacking with
his fastball http://www.bengalsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-billy-price-jersey , slider, throwing strikes and really commanding his pitch count.”
It was the first complete game of Keller’s career.
”After
the game a few guys came up and said congratulations,” Keller said.
”I’ve never had one before and it’s pretty cool, but it’s frustrating
(taking the loss). That’s tough lineup. A lot of good hitters over
there. I tried to stay on the attack and not fall behind too much.”
The
only run came in the second inning. Ben Gamel dropped a broken-bat
single into shallow center to score Seager from second base. Seager
singled to right before Ryon Healy singled to center.
That’s
all Paxton needed, recording double-figure strikeouts for the seventh
time this season. On his 110th pitch, his last of the game to close out
the top of the eighth, his fastball was clocked at 99 mph.
”Late
in the game he just dialed it up,” Servais said. ”Pax emptied the tank
and let it rip. He had an overpowering fastball at the end. It’s pretty
rare. There are only five to 10 guys in baseball who can do that and
we’re lucky to have one of them.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Royals:
RHP Ian Kennedy, who experienced tightness on his left side during his
start Friday, had his normal throwing day in the bullpen Sunday, but
Kansas City manager Ned Yost did not say whether Kennedy would make his
next scheduled start. Yost said RF Jorge Soler (fractured toe and placed
in the 10-day DL June 17) is still on a six-weeks-or-so recovery, so
it’s likely another four weeks before he would return.
Mariners:
Manager Scott Servais said they will monitor RHP Felix Hernandez and
his back stiffness over the next few days. Hernandez pitched five
innings Saturday night and earned the victory (three runs and six hits)
but struggled with back pain and wasn’t able to sit down in the dugout
between innings. ”We’ll keep an eye on it,” Servais said. ”We have the
off day (Monday) so he’ll get an extra-day off between starts.” …
Servais said he was hopeful RHP Hisashi Iwakuma http://www.bengalsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-sam-hubbard-jersey
, who underwent shoulder surgery last September, would be back by now,
but Iwakuma’s throwing was shut down again last week. ”He’s frustrated
by that,” Servais said. ”The doctors still are optimistic he’ll get back
(this season) but I don’t have any timetable for it.”
UP NEXT
Royals:
RHP Jakob Junis (5-9, 4.67) will make his 17th starts of the season
Monday when the Royals return home to start a three-game series with
Cleveland. Junis has allowed a major league-high 22 home runs over 96.1
innings.
Mariners: LHP Wade LeBlanc (3-0,
3.38) will make his 12th starts of the season Tuesday when Seattle
starts a three-game series at home against the Angels. LeBlanc hasn’t
lost a decision in his 11 starts and the Mariners are 8-3 in those
games.
DENVER — When Andrew Suarez starts
Wednesday for the San Francisco Giants, he will try to help them avoid
being swept by the Colorado Rockies and solidify his spot in the Giants’
changing rotation.
Colorado left-hander Tyler Anderson (5-3, 4.23 ERA) will oppose Suarez (3-4, 4.18).
Before
his team lost 8-1 on Tuesday to the Rockies, Giants manager Bruce Bochy
announced that Johnny Cueto will be reinstated from the 60-day disabled
list to start Thursday against St. Louis and Jeff Samardzija will come
off the 10-day disabled list and start Saturday against the Cardinals.
Cueto
(elbow strain) went 3-0 with an 0.84 ERA in five starts for the Giants
this season. His last start for the Giants came April 28, and he pitched
7 2/3 scoreless innings in two rehab starts for Triple-A Sacramento.
“Johnny’s
set to go,” Bochy said. “He passed all the tests, checked every box
off. Been throwing the ball well. Hasn’t given up a run there. Bullpen
(session Monday) went fine. Been hitting Authentic Lamar Jackson Jersey
, bunting. I talked to Johnny. He said, ‘I’m ready to go. I feel better
now than before (the injury).’ When you get one of your big guys ready
to go, you pitch him.”
Bochy said Cueto
would be limited to 85 pitches Thursday, and Derek Holland, if he
doesn’t come out of the bullpen in the Rockies series, would back up
Cueto.
Samardzija will pitch for the Giants
for the first time since May 29. Bochy said that Dereck Rodriguez, who
was scheduled to pitch Thursday, will instead start Friday. Madison
Bumgarner, of course, will take his regular turn Sunday. That leaves
Suarez or Chris Stratton for the final spot in the rotation. Both
pitchers have minor league options.
Suarez
might have the advantage because he has pitched well lately. He went 2-0
in six June starts, and in his last outing Friday at Arizona, he
allowed one run in six innings. Suarez made his Coors Field debut and
first start against the Rockies on May 28 and allowed four runs (three
earned) in five innings in a no-decision after heeding advice from
catcher Buster Posey.
Suarez said, “I remember the last time we were Authentic Sam Darnold Jersey
, before my bullpen, Buster came up to me and he was like ‘As long as
you keep throwing it right, it’ll be fine. But if you try too much,
that’s the problem you’ll have. Your stuff isn’t as good.’ I just made
sure to just throw it normal.”
Meanwhile,
Stratton gave up a career-high 11 hits and a career-high eight runs in 5
2/3 innings Tuesday. In his past six starts, Stratton is 1-3 with a
5.79 ERA.
Anderson threw a career-high
eight scoreless innings with one walk and eight strikeouts Wednesday at
Los Angeles in a 3-1 win over the Dodgers. Anderson is 2-2 with a 2.70
ERA in his past five starts with six walks and 32 strikeouts in 33 1/3
innings. He’s 0-2 with a 5.56 ERA in four career starts against the
Giants, including a no-decision May 20 at AT&T Park where he gave up
five runs in 5 1/3 innings as the Rockies lost 9-5.
The
Rockies have won 14 of their past 16 games from the Giants (45-42) at
Coors Field. The Rockies (43-43) have climbed back to .500 by winning
five of their past six games. They have been getting outstanding
starting pitching, the latest effort being seven scoreless innings
Tuesday from Antonio Senzatela in his first start this season for the
Rockies.
The Colorado starters have pitched
well in six of the past eight games, going 4-0 with a 2.15 ERA in that
stretch and allowing 12 earned runs and 31 hits in 50 1/3 innings with
11 walks and 41 strikeouts.
“We’re only
going to go as far as they do,” Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado
said. “They’re pitching great. They’re giving the offense a chance.
Quick innings, which is huge.”