Mike Leake gave us a second quality start in as many outings and the bullpen was able to hold on to take a 4-3 series-opening win over the Angels.

I’ve had this series on my mind ever since the Angels came in last month and ruined Edgar Martinez weekend.  Revenge will be ours!  And, while their top four hitters were able to get theirs, it wasn’t enough, and the bottom of the lineup was laid to waste to keep things close.

Leake got through 6 innings, giving up 3 runs (2 earned), striking out 5 and walking 0.  From there, with the expanded bullpen, Scott Servais got to pull out his inner Mike Scioscia, using 3 relievers to get through the seventh.  From there, Vincent handled the eighth, and Edwin Diaz got right back on the trolley for his 32nd save of the season.

Ben Gamel was the hero offensively, hitting a 3-run home run.  Mitch Haniger hit the winning run in back in the third inning on an RBI single the other way.  The M’s had 11 hits in total, with Haniger, Zunino, and Gamel in the bottom half of the lineup combining for 6 of those hits.

The Mariners are still too far back to get into the Wild Card picture.  Get back to me if they sweep this series.

Tonight, we’ve got Albers on the hill, followed by Erasmo tomorrow afternoon.  Godspeed.

It’s looking like, if things keep going well, we’ll have Felix and Paxton back towards the end of next week.  Fingers crossed!

Let’s go on a big ol’ hot streak to end the season and really blow the world’s mind!