During an 'eventful' 9th inning, and clinging on to a 4-2 lead over the LA Angels, the Mariners bullpen faced 8 hitters, and nearly blew it. The Mariners entered the bottom of the ninth with Mark Lowe on the mound. He walked 2, before getting a strike out on Mike Napoli. He then managed to draw a ground out, but the runners advanced to 2 and 3. The Mariners then handed the ball to Brandon Morrow to try and get Vlad Guerrero as the third out. But he also walked.
With the bases loaded, John McLaren looked to Ryan Rowland-Smith to save the day. Facing Garrett Anderson, Rowland-Smith did not do it easy. He opened with a called strike on a 78mph slider. He then missed outside with a 91mph fastball, before drawing a swinging strike with a 78mph curve. he missed with another curve, taking it to 2-2. He then went back to the slider, drawing a foul on a 79mph pitch outside, and then missing wide with another 79mph slider. This took the count to 3-2. Rather than go for the safe option with the fastball, Rowland-Smith backed himself and nailed another 79mph slider on the outside corner of the plate. The slider caught Anderson looking, and it was goodnight for the Angels.
It was a good outing for Ryan, and duly noted by Mariners' manager John McLaren. "He has been under control and shown a good assortment of pitches," McLaren said. "He threw some nice pitches to Anderson and that last pitch, I don't know if 'frozen' is the right word, but it was a nasty pitch. Garret is one of the most respected hitters on their club, if not the league. He is not an easy out, by any means"
The Mariners are eagerly awaiting the return of star closer JJ Putz. Rowland-Smith said "it’s been a positive thing these past two weeks because everyone’s had to step up and pitch in a situation they wouldn’t normally pitch in. I think that’s going to make us stronger after [Putz] comes back."
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