The Final Score: Mariners 6, White Sox 4

A great game was played last night although more bad news on the injury front came after the game:  Kenji Johjima went on the DL after the game again last night.  His injury was described as "day-today."   

Although Kenji's out again, the Mariners, lead in part by Luke French, after his 4 and 2/3 innings of prestine pitching, went on the win last night, with a score of 6 to 4.

Last night, Waki's line-up was changed again, this time experimenting with Franki Gutierez in the number two slot.  Branyan was batting sixth in the wake of his recent slump.

And I guess Kenji knew he'd be injured again, because he slugged a two run homer, the winning force of last night's game.

After rookie left-hander Luke French tossed 4 2/3 stellar innings, he wobbled in the fifth and sixth innings and settled for a no-decision in his home debut. Right-handed relievers Sean White, Mark Lowe and David Aardsma held the visitors scoreless over the final 3 2/3 innings.

White got the win, improving to 3-2, Lowe worked a perfect eighth inning and Aardsma retired three of the four batters he faced in the ninth for his 27th save in 29 save chances.

First baseman Russell Branyan contributed his 27th home run, a solo shot that knotted the game in the sixth inning, and Ken Griffey Jr. delivered a two-run single in the fourth that produced the first runs of the series opener.  And, for one of the few times recently, Johjima was a big part of the Mariners lineup!

Waki said about Johjima after the game:

"I think the public, in a sense, wants to say [Johjima] is the backup catcher,"

"I am the official backup," Johjima agreed through an interpriter. "I come to the ballpark every day prepared to play, to perform and to contribute. I am very happy to have contributed tonight."  (quotes thanks to MLB.com)

The Mariners again tonight, same time, same place, Danks vs. Fister, Fister in his first MLB start.

The box score, courtisy of MLB.com

Chi White Sox AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG Podsednik, CF 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .297 Beckham, 3B 3 1 1 0 1 1 0 .303 Dye, RF 3 1 0 0 1 0 1 .270 Thome, DH 4 0 0 0 0 3 2 .252 Konerko, 1B 3 0 0 0 1 2 0 .282 Quentin, LF 3 1 2 2 1 0 0 .239 Ramirez, A, SS 4 0 1 0 0 1 4 .273 Nix, J, 2B 1 1 0 0 2 0 2 .224   a-Kotsay, PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .242 Castro, R, C 3 0 2 2 0 0 1 .222   b-Pierzynski, PH 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .315 Totals 30 4 7 4 6 8 14   a-Lined out for Nix, J in the 9th. b-Grounded into a double play for Castro, R in the 9th. BATTING 2B: Quentin 2 (11, French, White), Castro, R (6, French). TB: Podsednik; Beckham; Quentin 4; Ramirez, A; Castro, R 3. RBI: Castro, R 2 (21), Quentin 2 (29). 2-out RBI: Castro, R 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Podsednik; Nix, J 2. GIDP: Podsednik; Pierzynski. Team RISP: 2-for-7. Team LOB: 5. BASERUNNING PO: Podsednik (1st base by French). FIELDING Outfield assists: Podsednik (Suzuki, I at 2nd base). DP: (Beckham-Nix, J-Konerko).		Seattle AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG Suzuki, I, RF 4 0 1 1 0 2 0 .362 Gutierrez, F, CF 3 1 1 0 1 0 0 .300 Lopez, J, 2B 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 .278 Griffey Jr., DH 4 0 2 2 0 2 0 .223 Beltre, 3B 4 0 2 0 0 0 1 .268 Branyan, 1B 4 1 1 1 0 1 3 .255 Wilson, J, SS 3 1 0 0 1 1 3 .263 Johjima, C 3 1 1 2 0 1 0 .252 Saunders, LF 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 .260 Totals 31 6 9 6 3 7 8   BATTING 2B: Lopez, J (28, Floyd, G). HR: Branyan (27, 6th inning off Floyd, G, 0 on, 2 out), Johjima (4, 6th inning off Pena, To, 1 on, 2 out). TB: Suzuki, I; Gutierrez, F; Lopez, J 2; Griffey Jr. 2; Beltre 2; Branyan 4; Johjima 4. RBI: Griffey Jr. 2 (37), Suzuki, I (32), Branyan (67), Johjima 2 (14). 2-out RBI: Branyan; Johjima 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Wilson, J 2. GIDP: Beltre. Team RISP: 3-for-7. Team LOB: 4. BASERUNNING SB: Wilson, J (3, 2nd base off Pena, To/Castro, R), Saunders (1, 2nd base off Floyd, G/Castro, R), Beltre (10, 2nd base off Dotel/Castro, R). FIELDING DP: 3 (Wilson, J-Branyan, Lopez, J-Wilson, J-Branyan 2). Pickoffs: French (Podsednik at 1st base).
Chi White Sox IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA Floyd, G (L, 9-7) 5.2 7 5 5 3 4 1 4.06 Pena, To 0.1 1 1 1 0 0 1 4.56 Linebrink 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.12 Dotel 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 2.82		Seattle IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA French 5.1 3 4 4 6 5 0 4.31 White (BS, 2)(W, 3-2) 1.2 3 0 0 0 1 0 3.31 Lowe, M (H, 19) 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2.98 Aardsma (S, 27) 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1.55
Pitches-strikes: Floyd, G 117-71, Pena, To 6-4, Linebrink 11-8, Dotel 16-12, French 90-50, White 25-15, Lowe, M 16-12, Aardsma 20-14. Groundouts-flyouts: Floyd, G 7-5, Pena, To 0-1, Linebrink 2-0, Dotel 1-0, French 4-5, White 3-1, Lowe, M 0-1, Aardsma 2-1. Batters faced: Floyd, G 25, Pena, To 2, Linebrink 3, Dotel 4, French 23, White 7, Lowe, M 3, Aardsma 3. Inherited runners-scored: Pena, To 1-1, White 3-2. Umpires: HP: Angel Hernandez. 1B: Lance Barksdale. 2B: Casey Moser. 3B: Marvin Hudson. Weather: 68 degrees, roof closed. Wind: 1 mph, Out to LF. T: 2:42. Att: 21,049. August 10, 2009 Box score official statistics approved by Major League Baseball Office of the Commissioner