It wasn’t pretty, but M’s will take it

  • Larry LaRue / The News Tribune
  • Friday, May 17, 2002 9:00pm
  • Sports

By Larry LaRue

The News Tribune

BOSTON – If there was a sloppier game played in the major leagues Friday, it wasn’t between two first place teams.

When Boston and Seattle matched up, the expectations were high – crisp baseball, a battle between teams with the highest winning percentage in the game.

And somewhere amidst the errors, the baserunning gaffes and silly mistakes, the Mariners managed to beat the Red Sox, 6-3.

“You make three errors against a first-place team, you usually get blown out, it’s over,” Charles Gipson said.

“We play hard, we get after it, we expect to win,” Mike Cameron said, then smiled. “And sometimes, there’s a little luck involved.”

Not surprisingly, it was manager Lou Piniella who cut to the heart of the matter.

“You can play sloppy in the field, miss opportunities at the plate, make mistakes on the bases – and still win – when you get good pitching,” Piniella said. “You can do all those things well, and without good pitching it’s tough to win.

“I looked at our dugout at one point tonight and said, ‘What’s going on out there?’ But our pitching gave us the chance to win.”

Three Seattle errors – by Jeff Cirillo, Cameron and John Olerud – in the first three innings all but handed the Red Sox all their runs, with John Halama forced to get four outs three different times.

By the fourth inning, Halama was gassed – after 85 pitches – and Boston had the bases loaded. Enter Ryan Franklin.

“If they add to that 3-1 lead there, it’s going to be hard to catch them,” Piniella said. “Ryan threw two great breaking pitches and then a fastball in on (Doug) Mirabelli’s hands for the strikeout and we were out of trouble.”

Once the Mariners straightened out their defense, it was their baserunning that kept Boston in the game.

Tying the score in the fourth inning on Ichiro Suzuki’s two-run double, the Mariners lost the chance to go ahead when – on that same hit – Desi Relaford was called out for missing home plate.

“I dragged my foot across it, but I should have just slid, then it wouldn’t have happened,” Relaford said.

Seattle broke through again in the sixth inning, when Relaford singled home one run and Cirillo singled home two more – before being thrown out trying to stretch his single into a double. Before the night was over, Cirillo would be thrown out at second again.

“We’re going to have our first base coach ready with a rope and lasso when Jeff goes by,” Piniella said.

All the mistakes weren’t Seattle’s. Three of the Mariners runs were pushed aboard by Boston walks, and in the eighth inning – down by three – the Red Sox helped beat themselves.

With Mirabelli on second base and two outs, Johnny Damon singled into left field. With Nomar Garciaparra on deck, the safe play was to hold at third base.

Mirabelli tried to score, and Relaford’s throw to catcher Ben Davis was near perfect for the third out of the inning.

And that was that.

Against relievers Franklin (four innings), Arthur Rhodes (one out) and Kazuhiro Sasaki (1-2-3 ninth inning and his 10th save), the best Boston could manage was four hits.

Afterward, no one in the Seattle clubhouse tried to paint it as classic game.

“Good teams don’t play like that every night – or they’re not good teams,” Cameron said. “We take pride in the way we play, and we’ve been in every possible grind situation except the World Series.

“We didn’t play real smooth tonight, but we won.”

They won for the 17th time in 20 road games, a record that matches the major league mark for best starts to a season (1984 Tigers). Piniella, asked to explain that, shrugged.

“We set an American League record for road wins last year, and we’ve just continued that style of play this year,” he said. “These players are fun to watch. They give what they’ve got, every game.”

Now, even when they’re bad they seem to be better than the opposition.

When it was over, when Sasaki had set Boston down on eight ninth-inning pitches, even the hitless Bret Boone found something to be pleased with.

After losing his 12-game hitting streak, during which he had tried to grow a goatee, Boone shaved it and rejoiced.

“I’m cute again,” he said. “And isn’t that what really matters?”

That and winning.

“We kind of stubbed our toes early in this one, but it didn’t effect the team,” Piniella said. “The errors, the baserunning mistakes, nobody was out there hanging their head.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Arlington’s Leyton Martin puts three fingers in the air after making a three point shot during the game against Glacier Peak on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Saturday, Feb. 15

Leyton Martin’s triple-double leads Arlington to district win

Monroe's Halle Keller drives past Meadowdale's Payton Fleishman during a Feb. 14, 2025 3A District 1 playoff game at Meadowdale High School. (Qasim Ali / The Herald)
Last-second layup powers Monroe past Mavs

The Bearcats staged a 50-49 road upset in a district playoff clash.

Shorecrest’s Cassie Chesnut leaps in the air to block a shot by Shorewood’s Bridget Cox during the 3A district playoff game on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Shorecrest girls win rubber match against Shorewood

Cassie Chesnut’s 28 points, 18 rebounds pushes the Scots to District 1 3A semifinals with 53-38 win.

Freshman leads Jackson to 4A district swim title

Syunta Lee sets two meet records as Timberwolves edge Lake Stevens.

Shorecrest wins 3A district swim title

Snohomish’s Torsten Hokanson sets two meet records and leads two winning relays.

Marysville Pilchuck claims 2A district wrestling title

Tomahawks win three individual championship bouts.

Snohomish’s Kendall Hammer yells in celebration with teammate Snohomish’s Sienna Capelli after she makes a shot and is fouled during the game on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 14

Snohomish, Stanwood girls cruise into district semis.

Gonzaga sets school record with 33 assists in blowout

The first half started with Khalif Battle hitting consecutive 3-pointers… Continue reading

Mountlake Terrace’s Svayjeet Singh leaps in the air after the basketball during the 3A district loser-out playoff game against Snohomish on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish upsets Mountlake Terrace for first playoff win in 11 years

Bryson Wheat scored 25 in Panthers’ 49-43 win to advance to the District 1 Boys 3A quarterfinals

Julio Rodríguez (left) and manager Dan Wilson (right) of the Seattle Mariners react after the game against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on Sept. 27, 2024, in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Dan Wilson begins first spring training as M’s manager

An anxious eagerness to get through the first of… Continue reading

Marysville Getchell junior Bubba Palocol reverses directions while dribbling against Arlington during a playoff matchup at Arlington High School on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, in Arlington, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Thursday, Feb. 13

Marysville Getchell, Lakewood boys each earn district wins

Kenneth Walker III runs with against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Dec. 1, 2024. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks)
Seahawks hire run game coach

Justin Outten added to staff as Mike Macdonald continues attempts to bolster rushing attack.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.