Lefty reliever Ryan Rowland-Smith made his first appearance for 2008 today, pitching in the bottom of the 8th as Seattle fought to hold off Tampa Bay. Rowland-Smith entered the game with the Mariners clinging to a 6-5 lead. Ace Erik Bedard, and fellow 'penner Roy Corcoran combined over the first 7.1 innings, but Corcoran walked Shawn Riggans, who was then subbed for pinch runner Nathan Haynes. The Rays sent up left handed pinch hitter Eric Hinske, and the Mariners called Rowland-Smith in to the play.
After a long at-bat, including a couple of pickoff attempts, Rowland-Smith drew a fly ball to centrefield. Safe as houses, Ichiro took the catch to grab the second out.
Rowland-Smith did a good job holding on Nathan Haynes at first, before inducing a grounder to get the force out at two to end the inning.
This would normally be where RRS would hang up his boots for the day. But the top three hitters in the Rays' lineup are all leftys, and they were due up next, so Rowland-Smith got the chance to get the save.
First hitter, Iwamura, called on out strikes.
Second hitter, Carl Crawford, flies out to shallow centrefield.
Third hitter, 2007 breakout Carlos Pena. RRS threw him two sweet curveballs, before finishing Pena off with a 93mph fastball, Pena down swinging.
So Ryan Rowland-Smith has his first major league save, Erik Bedard gets his first win in Seattle, and the Mariners end a four game losing streak. Good times all round!
RRS's stats for the game:
He took the save, over 1.2 innings pitched, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts. 17 pitches, 13 of them strikes, 2 flyouts and 1 ground out.
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