Mariners Find Spark in Ryan Bliss, Seek Sweep of Angels
For a group that has confronted hostile difficulties, tenderfoot Ryan Delight has given a pivotal lift to the Seattle Mariners. In Saturday’s down, Delight had a huge effect, prompting a 9-0 triumph over the Los Angeles Angels. The Mariners, presently at the highest point of the American Association West, will plan to finish a range of the three-game series against the keep going put Heavenly messengers on Sunday in Seattle in the MLB.
Bliss’s Breakout Performance
Ryan Bliss, in just his third start at second base since being called up on May 27, made his presence felt with his first major league hit, two stolen bases, and three runs scored. Bliss’s performance was instrumental in the Mariners’ offensive outburst.
“He was front and center in so much action out there,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said of Bliss, who batted in the ninth spot.
Bliss contributed significantly in each inning the Mariners scored. In the third inning, he drew a leadoff walk off Angels starter Reid Detmers, stole second base on a pickoff attempt, swiped third, and scored on Julio Rodriguez’s single.
In the fourth inning, Bliss drew a two-out walk to load the bases for J.P. Crawford, who then hit a grand slam. In the sixth inning, Bliss followed Luke Raley’s leadoff homer with his first hit, a liner to right-center. He continued to create opportunities by tagging up and taking second on Crawford’s flyout to left. Bliss then scored on Rodriguez’s bloop single to center, with Cal Raleigh adding a two-run double for the final margin.
Teammates ensured that Bliss would have a memento of his first major league hit by calling for the ball. “Right now I’m going to hold on to it until the offseason,” Bliss said. “Then I’ll probably put it up somewhere nice in front of everything in the house I have in the offseason.”
Angels’ Struggles
Reid Detmers was pulled after allowing Crawford’s grand slam and subsequently optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake. “He just hasn’t been able to consistently put hitters away,” Angels manager Ron Washington explained. “Like today, he was ahead of hitters all day long, but then the next thing you know it was 3-2. He just couldn’t command his slider, which is his pitch. The whole idea is to get him in an environment where it’s not about results. It’s about finding your stuff.”
Detmers, who had a strong start to the season with three wins in his first three starts, has now lost six straight decisions. “It just sucks — there’s no other way to put it,” Detmers said. “I just have to be better. You can take it two ways. You can pout about it and not get better or go there and get to work and figure some stuff out and get called back up.”
Pitching Matchup: Canning vs. Castillo
In the series finale, the Angels will send right-hander Griffin Canning (2-4, 5.08 ERA) to the mound to face Seattle’s right-hander Luis Castillo (4-6, 3.28 ERA). Canning has been consistent, allowing three runs or fewer in each of his five appearances in May, and holds a 2-1 record with a 3.38 ERA in five career starts against the Mariners.
Castillo, after losing his first four starts this season, has rebounded well. He holds a 3-1 record with a 3.93 ERA in six lifetime starts against the Angels in the MLB.
Team Momentum
The Mariners have won six of their last seven games, while the Angels have battled, losing seven of their last eight, including four successive misfortunes. This game addresses a urgent chance for the two groups: the Mariners plan to harden their situation at the highest point of the division with a scope, while the Angels look to end their terrible streak and recover some force in the MLB.
As the Mariners look to continue their winning ways, the spark provided by Ryan Bliss and the solid pitching of Luis Castillo will be key factors. Meanwhile, the Angels will rely on Griffin Canning to help them avoid a sweep and turn their fortunes around. Sunday’s game promises to be an exciting conclusion to the series in the MLB.