Let 'em Run!
Don Wakamatsu has his rabbits at the top of the lineup, Endy Chavez and Franklin Guttierez, and after Chavez singled, he was running when Guttierrez doubled.
Second and third, no one out, Ken Griffey Jr. had a long at-bat - fouling off six pitches - but popped out.
Adrian Beltre flied out, and Chavez scored to put Seattle ahead, 1-0.
It's a half inning into Game 2, but the Mariners haven't trailed, yet.
To the bottom of the first, Erik Bedard has a 1-0 lead.
Let 'em Run, II
Chavez chopped a one-out single over the firsts baseman's head, then stole second base wih Guttierrez up.
With two outs, the Twins walked Junior, and Beltre singled home Chavez.
That's another manufactured run, and Bedard now has a 2-0 lead.
Two outs, who cares?
Fourth inning, two outs, no one on. Wladimir Balentien singles and - after taking one pitch - Yuniesky Betancourt singles to left field.
On the play, Balentien got to third, and the throw from there back to second was late - runners at second and third base for Chavez.
Chavez grounded a single into right field, his third hit of the game, and both runners scored. The Mariners are now up 4-0, with Bedard having allowed one hit, and infield single.
The lefty looks good
A word about Mr. Bedard - wow.
Through four innings, he's thrown 53 pitches and shut out the Twins. He just pitched out of trouble in the fourth inning, striking out Delmon Young with runners at second and third base.
Bedard, who has said this is one of his least favorite parks in which to pitch, has been in full command tonight. He's struck out five, walked none.
The Twins come back - with a bit of help.
Bedard got himself in trouble in the fifth, but with one run in, two men on and two outs, he came ever so close to getting out of it.
On a two-strike pitch, Bedard threw a fastball that froze Michael Cuddyer, hit Kenji Johjima's glove and appeared to be a third strike.
Umpire Chuck Meriwether hesitated, then called the pitch a ball.
Two pitches later, Cuddyer singled home two runs.
Such is life in baseball. Pitchers have to deal with hitters, their own teammates on defense and, yes, umpires.
To the sixth: Mariners 4, Twins 3.
It's up to the bullpen
After five innings and 85 pitches, Bedard departed and right-hander Roy Corcoran replaced him.
Corcoran threw a six-pitch sixth inning, and worked the seventh with right-hander David Aardsma warming up behind him.
Six more outs, the Mariners would start their season 2-0 on the road against a very good Twins team.
But if the last three outs of a game are the toughest to get, the last six - with a one-run margin - is one long stretch to survive.
After seven: Seattle 4, Minnesota 3
Morrow is up
Brandon Morrow was warming in Game 1 when the Mariners broke the game open, so Miguel Batista finished, instead.
Tonight, Bedard, Corcoran and Aardsma have gotten through eight innings with a one-run lead.
Morrow is warming up.
Balentien singled, and with two outs was on second base. Guttierrrez singled him home to pad that lead. Griffey flied out.
Morrow is coming in.
Seattle 5, Minnesota 3.
The 27th Out
Morrow got the first two batters, walked the next three. With a two-run lead, Batista was brought in to end it.
He didn't.
An infield single made it 5-4.
A two-run single by Alexi Casilla won it, 6-5.
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