Mariners sweep Red Sox; Grab first place

Did you know that potential league MVP Big Papi was once a Wisconsin Timber Rattler? Me neither. Did you know that he was originally called David Arias and not David Ortiz? Me neither. I didn't even need to photoshop in a logo this time!

Poor Spencer drives all the way up to Wisconsin, only to get swept by my homer-happy team. Sorry brah. In the series, the traveling Mariners outscored the Red Sox 30-10. The Mariners are now in first place with a 8-4 record.


GAME ONE: Travis Blackley -vs- Tommy Millone***
The M's wasted little time in game one, scoring twelve runs on 25 hits (yes, 25 hits), in three innings off Red Sox starter Tommy Millone. David Ortiz had four hits including a homer, J.P. Arencibia hit two home runs and a double, Evan Longoria had four hits and four RBI and Viciedo collected three hits and three RBI. Ian Kinsler and Jamey Carroll each had three-hit games, as well. Travis Blackley pitched seven tidy innings, yielding only one run and five hits. For Spencer, Matt Weiters had two hits and a RBI.
HRS - Arencibia (2), Ortiz
Win - Blackley, Loss - Millone
NICK 15, SPENCER 2

GAME TWO: Jered Weaver -vs- Brandon McCarthy
A seventh inning rally, featuring back-to-back, run scoring doubles from Alex Gordon and Big Papi, secured a tight, game-two victory for the Mariners. Adam Dunn hit a grand slam in the first inning, before the Red Sox tied things with two runs in the second and two more in the bottom of the fourth.  For Spencer's Red Sox, Alberto Callaspo reached base twice and had two RBI, Paul Konerko had three hits and Omar Infante had a two-run double.
HR - Dunn (GS)
Win - Fort Atkinson, SV - Balfour, Loss - McCarthy
NICK 6, SPENCER 5

GAME THREE: Brandon Morrow -vs- Chris Sale***
The Mariners secured the series sweep in game three, thanks to seven doubles, nine runs and solid pitching from starter Brandon Morrow who whiffed eight batters and yielded just one run. Longoria had two doubles, a single and two RBI for the M's. Viciedo had a double, two RBI and a run scored. For the Red Sox, Paul Konerko had a multi-hit game and a home run, ElZobrist and Revere each had two hits and Jeff Mathis hit a solo homer.
HR - Konerko, Mathis
Win - Morrow, SV - Balfour, Loss - Sale  
NICK 9, SPENCER 3

*** Left hand pitcher. Just saying.

I am the goddamn manager.

As if anybody actually needed another reason to love Jim Leyland. The man delivers it straight. Right to his primadonna superstar.  Awesome.

Fish at Nick

Location: Nick Ewoldt Family Residence, East Troy Wisconsin

Food: Exceptional Deb Breakfast including eggs over medium, waffles, sausages and breakfast bread

Music: Very little – background noise of American Pie Wedding Movie

Game 1: Price at Morrow

This was a low scoring game with two excellent pitchers on the mound.  Viciedo hit a solo home run in the bottom of the 4^th to give Nick a 1-0 lead, which held up to the 9^th inning.  Grant Balfour came on for the save and was denied by an AJ Pierzynski Clutch solo home run to tie the game.  In the 10^th inning, Lorenzo Cain had a brain cramp allowing a double and error to beginning the inning off the bat of Skeletor, and was scored with an Alex Rios single.  Tim from Seattle closed the 10^th out for his 1^st save of the season, including a Jammed out home run by Adam Dunn in the bottom of the 10^th.  Fish wins 2-1

Win – Price

Loss – Balfour

Save – Tim from Seattle (Wilhelmsen)

Home Runs – Viciedo, AJ

Game 2: Diamond at Grienke

You would think it was Hanukkah as Ian Kinsler hit a home run to lead off the frame in the bottom of the 1^st.  But it would not be 8 crazy nights as Zach Grienke would get light up like a menorah.  Alex Rios was 3-5 on the game with two RBI’s, including triple and double.  Will Middlebrooks assited in the offense with a 2-3 performance including a solo home run.  Nick’s team was paced by David Ortiz who was 3-4 on the day including a solo home run.  Fish wins 6-4.

Win – Diamond

Loss – Grienke

Save – Tim from Seattle

Home Runs – Kinsler, Middlebrooks, Cain, Ortiz

Game 3: Kuroda at Hammel

Another close game as these two evenly matched teams faced off.  Nick took an early lead with an Ortiz solo home run in the bottom of the 1^st.  Skeletor answer in the 4^th inning with a RBI double, plating Middlebrooks.  Nick’s string of solo home runs continued with an Andrews solo shot in the bottom of the 5^th.  Skeletor cross the plate in the 7^th when Action Jackson drove him with a base shot.  The game went into extra innings and Nick eventually won the game in the bottom of the 12^th as “JJ” Reddick hit a bases loaded sack fly.  Nick wins 3-2

Win – Frieri

Loss – Burton

Home Runs – Ortiz, Andrews

Mariners win road series in Toronto

If Joey Bats wants a hot dog, Joey Bats eats a hot dog.

Keith (Blue Jays) –vs- Nick (Mariners)

Location: Branch Street Retreat, Middleton, WI.

Location’s PTP Comfort Level: 8 of 10.

Location’s Music Selection: Rather Varied. Bone Thugs, Shania Twain and O.A.R.

GAME ONE: Jason Hammel –vs- Bartolo Colon

The Mariners wasted little time in game one, scoring four runs in the first inning. Alex ‘Doubles’ Gordon and John Jaso each doubled before Jose Bautista hit a two-run homer. Jamey Carroll added a run-scoring single. Keith made things close, all game, thanks to a Prince Fielder two-run homer and a solo-bomb from J.J. Hardy.

NICK 4, KEITH 3

WIN – Hammel, LOSS – Colon, HOLD – Fort Atkinson (Scott Atchinson), SV – Balfour

GAME TWO: Travis Blackley -vs- Justin Masterson (so good Keith drafted him three times)

The homerun-happy Mariners used three round-trippers to secure a game two, 4-1, win. Jose Bautista hit his second homer of the series, David Ortiz went yard and backup catcher J.P. Arencibia hit a two-run bomb. Keith managed just four hits. Brett Lawrie hit two doubles, one that scored a Molina brother.

NICK 4, KEITH 1

WIN – Blackley, LOSS – Masterson, HOLD – Fort Atkinson, SV – Balfour

GAME THREE: Jered Weaver -vs- Felix Hernandez

Mike Napoli hit a walk-off bomb to salvage game three for the Jays. Felix Hernandez earned a complete-game win and tied the previous league record with 16 strikeouts. For Seattle, John Jaso hit a homer and Daniel Nava and Elvis Andrus each had two-hits.

KEITH 6, NICK 4

WIN – King Felix, LOSS – Frieri

NICK WINS SERIES, 2-1.