Seattle (14-21) @ Tampa Bay (24-11)

[TTown]

Well, we won the first game of the series 4-3. This is why I love Fister: he didn't have his best stuff and he labored through 5 innings, but he only gave up the 1 run. No implosion, no 5-run inning. He wasn't able to pitch as long as he wanted, I'm sure, but even on an off day he put the M's in a position win. And the bullpen held up! Small wonders.

M's hit 3 HRs, too. Guti hit his 4th, Adam Moore had his 1st, and Sweeney hit his 2nd HR in as many days.

Jason Vargas (3-2, 3.00) @ James Shields (4-1, 3.13) today.

[TTown]

sigh

7 superb innings by Vargas. We give up 2 runs in the 8th to tie the game 2-2, then Jesus Colome gives up a walk-off HR to Willy Aybar in the 9th. Another game, a plethora of missed opportunities to extend a lead. We can't rely on Mike Sweeney to hit HRs every game like he's been doing.

Cliff Lee (1-1, 2.01) vs. Matt Garza (5-1, 2.49) in the rubber match.

[TTown]

I can't believe I'm actually advocating for Mike Sweeney here, but... is there any reason Junior is the DH today, as opposed to Sweeney? We're a terrible offensive team that just benched a hitter who has hit three HRs in the last three games for a .198 hitter who has lost all semblance of power. Is Sweeney so old that he needs a break from DH'ing 3-4 straight days?

C Josh Bard got called up, too. Adam Moore's been placed on the 15 day DL.

[Bay_Areas_Finest]

Unless this team plans on trading for a bat ASAP, I think it would be a good idea to trade Cliff Lee in the very near future. Get some quality god damn ballplayers because he's being wasted away.

**** all these one run games. It's so frustrating.

[TTown]

Yep, Lee's pitched 3 or 4 games for us now and has been screwed out of most of them.