Cleveland Indians: Mariners' Error Sparks Tribe

8 - 15 - 10     vs. Seattle     W, 9 - 1     49 - 69

     The Indians have spent most of the season watching their pitchers unravel after a defensive misplay was made behind them.  This time, though, it was Seattle's Felix Hernandez who fell apart following a seemingly meaningless error made by his second baseman, Chone Figgins.  The E - 4 came with two outs in the 7th inning of a scoreless pitcher's duel, and it led to a seven - spot for the Tribe and an eventual lopsided victory.
     Jusin Masterson and Hernandez both took no - hitters into the 5th before the offenses began to solve the two starting hurlers.  In the top of the 5th, the Mariners loaded the bases with only one out, but Matt LaPorta quickly came to the rescue.  The first baseman's diving catch of an Ichiro Suzuki line drive saved a couple of runs and his diving tag of Figgins saved another.
     So, both clubs still had goose eggs up on the scoreboard when the Tribe came to bat in that fateful bottom of the 7th.  It began routinely enough as King Felix promptly retired the first two hitters that he faced.  Then, Luis Valbuena hit a grounder to second that Figgins bobbled and then he threw high to first base.  Casey Kotchman claimed that he had been able to keep his foot on the bag, but the call did not go his way, and the window of opportunity had opened ever so slightly for the Indians. 
     Visibly frustrated, Hernandez left a pitch up in the zone and Lou Marson drilled it through the right side of the infield, putting runners on the corners.  The next batter, Michael Brantley, got a nearly identical pitch, and  he shot it into center field, scoring Valbuena.  After Asdrubal Cabrera gapped a RBI double to right - center, the M's made the mistake of intentionally walking Shin - Soo Choo to get to Travis Hafner, who was making his first appearance since coming off of the disabled list.  And Pronk made the visitors pay by launching a grand slam into the Indians' bullpen in right - center.
     Seattle's ace had allowed six unearned runs, and the result, a loss.
     A call to the bullpen did not do the Mariners any good because Jayson Nix's solo homer made it back - to back jacks, and it also made it a laugher.
     Brantley's lined shot of a two - run homer in the 9th, gave the Tribe the afternoon's last highlight.