Ken Griffey Jr. did it again, hitting his second three-run home run in 26 hours as the Seattle Mariners had fun early in jumping out to a 6-0 lead over the Oakland Athletics.
From there, the heavy lifting was done by Brandon John Morrow, a 25-year-old whose career as a starting pitcher had largely been one of potential, not performance.
For once, Morrows right arm was as good all night as the Mariners believed it could be, and he one-hit the Athletics through eight innings Wednesday, getting the 7-0 win that was Seattles 82nd of the season.
Yes, the Mariners now have a winning season in 2009.
And theyll have a different image of Morrow.
Thats going to be a fond memory for all of us this offseason, manager Don Wakamatsu said.
Morrow beamed afterward.
Im going to get that game on DVD and watch it about 20 times, Morrow said.
Seattle jumped all over rookie Clay Mortenson, chasing him before he could get an out in the second. There was Griffeys 18th home run No.629 in his career and RBI from Franklin Gutierrez, Jose Lopez, Jack Hannahan and Adam Moore.
For Moore, the evening was historic. He began the night on the bench, entered after Kenji Johjima was hit on the left arm with a first inning pitch. In the fourth inning, Moore hit the first home run of his big-league career.
It set a franchise record: Moore was the 22nd Mariners player this season to hit a home run.
Last night it was Felix Hernandez and Griffey, Wakamatsu said. Tonight, change the headlines to Morrow and Griffey. Thats as good a start as weve had all season.
All that had a crowd of 16,930 revved up after two innings. For the rest of the night, what they saw was Morrow on a mission, Morrow the Dominator Morrow the potential starting pitcher.
Wed seen glimpses of this in the past, but to go eight innings like this? It gives you a lot of hope for next year, Wakamatsu said. Brandon put on a clinic tonight.
Morrow has always been seen for his potential rather than any consistent performance. In relief, his fastball could overpower hitters in an inning, but his command rarely gave him easy innings.
As a starter, control was an issue, too like in Morrows last start. After holding Tampa Bay to two runs in five innings, Morrow walked back-to-back hitters on nine pitches to open the sixth, and was lifted.
Two starts ago, Morrow worked 52/3 innings, allowed six hits and six walks.
Ive been getting better every time out, Morrow said. Ive improved in all areas this season. I look at Felix this season, how consistent hes been all year. Thats what Id love to be, thats what Im trying to be.
This time out, Morrow set the tone with a 1-2-3 first inning in which he struck out two and threw 13 pitches, 11 strikes. By the time he took the mound in the second inning, he was ahead, 4-0
Morrow retired the first 10 Athletics he faced, allowed an infield single on a close play at first base, the set down another 13 in a row.
Dominant and in full command, Morrow relied heavily on a fastball that topped out at 96 mph, mixing in a slider and change-up. When he had trouble early in the game throwing the latter two pitches for strikes, he went hard with that fastball.
Oakland could do nothing with it.
He had all his pitches working, he had it all going on, catcher Moore said. It was like a lot of games I caught him in Tacoma.
And when the other pitches came around, Morrow would get ahead with the fastball and make the Athletics chase breaking balls in the dirt.
It was a simple plan of attack but one that had not gotten Morrow this deep in a game in his career.
When Morrow hit the wall in this game, it was in the eighth inning with two out. He walked consecutive batters, the second on four pitches. He fell behind Cliff Pennington, 2-0, and was visited at the mound by pitching Rick Adair.
Morrow threw a strike to Pennington, then got his 24th out of the night on a routine fly ball.
I was out of gas, I was hurrying the ball, Morrow said. Rick came out and I slowed down and got the last out.
For Wakamatsu and pitching coach Rick Adair, this wasnt just a superb game by a 25-year-old pitcher, it was more than theyd ever seen from Morrow, and it will give both something to think about during the offseason.
Brandon will have this game on his mind until spring training, Wakamatsu said. I will, too.
larry.larue@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/mariners
