Miller in some impressive company plus lineup and notes…
Jul 20, 2013, 12:50 PM | Updated: 12:50 pm
By Shannon Drayer
To a man the Mariners are attributing a lot of the the success they are having right now to better at bats up and down the lineup. It is not a matter of trying to draw walks many have emphasized, but to get the pitch they are looking for. How much of an impact have these at bats had? Well, since the beginning of June opposing starters have averaged just under 5 innings per game. And on that note, Eric Bedard is starting today for the Astros.
Lineup…
Miller 6
Franklin 4
Ibanez 7
Morales DH
Seager 5
Smoak 3
Bay 9
Zunino 2
Saunders 8
A little bit of a different look facing a lefty. Ackley sits and Jason Bay gets a start and Michael Saunders is dropped to ninth which gives a little bit of speed at the top and the bottom of the lineup which could be interesting to watch.
Brad Miller of course was getting it done with the bat rather than his legs last night. 3 for 5 with his first two big league home runs was no doubt a night he will never forget. His first home run which traveled 415 feet is something he may not remember however. “I was just looking for anything to hit hard. Hey threw one in there and it felt pretty good. It felt pure and I kind of blacked out there for a minute.” On the field he told me he is pretty sure he has never hit a ball that far. Not a bad way to get your first.
One last note on Miller’s night before I head down to the clubhouse. With his second game with 4+ RBI he becomes the only Mariners player to do so this early in his career and joins the Dodgers Yasiel Puig as the only other player this season to do so this season. Not bad company.
